Aquifer recharge efforts going well so far in 2017

More moisture than usual over the winter is helping eastern Idaho in a big way. For the first time in years, we are effectively recharging the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer has been steadily declining since the 1950’s, which has been significantly impacting the availability of groundwater and surface water users along the Snake River.

The Great Feeder Canal is getting more water this year thanks to the melting snowpack

“The last year we have an extraordinarily larger amount of recharge occurring,” said Luke Hicks, director of the Great Feeder Canal

“The runoff has created a lot of excess water that would otherwise leave the state. So now were recharging it and replenishing the aquifer,” said Wesly Hipke, manager for the Idaho Department of Water Resource Recharge Program.

The more water that gets back into the aquifer, the better this year will be for water users from homeowners to farmers in the region.

The goal of the project is to have 250,000-acre feet or more of water per year. That number would both help stabilize and build the aquifer back up.