Creation ofWater District 140

Creation ofWater District 140

Background Information – Background Information –

What Brought Us to This Point In What Brought Us to This Point In Water Distribution, and Why Do We Water Distribution, and Why Do We

We Need to Go Further?We Need to Go Further?

Presentation byPresentation by

Dave Tuthill, Administrator, Dave Tuthill, Administrator,

Water Management DivisionWater Management Division

Idaho Department of Water ResourcesIdaho Department of Water Resources

IDWR StaffIDWR Staff

• Tim Luke, Water Distribution Section Tim Luke, Water Distribution Section SupervisorSupervisor

• Allen Merritt, Manager, Southern Allen Merritt, Manager, Southern Regional Office in Twin FallsRegional Office in Twin Falls

• Corbin Knowles, HydrologistCorbin Knowles, Hydrologist

• Troy Winward, Engineer in TrainingTroy Winward, Engineer in Training

Discussion Items, Informational Meeting in Burley, November 29, 2005

• In the beginning…In the beginning…

• Status of the SRBAStatus of the SRBA

• Statutory Framework Statutory Framework

• Basin 45 IssuesBasin 45 Issues

• Standards for creating a new Water DistrictStandards for creating a new Water District

• Thoughts for the FutureThoughts for the Future

Mrs. AdamsMrs. AdamsIrrigation of Irrigation of

50 acres50 acres1.0 cfs1.0 cfs

6/16/18876/16/1887

Mr. BlackMr. BlackIrrigation ofIrrigation of

60 acres60 acres1.2 cfs1.2 cfs

6/17/18876/17/1887

Mrs. ClarkMrs. ClarkIrrigation of Irrigation of 500 acres500 acres10.0 cfs10.0 cfs

6/16/19826/16/1982

WellWell

Resolution:• Adjudicate• Establish water districts for distribution

Status of the SRBAStatus of the SRBA

19,036

118,392

8,293

Decreed

Submitted, AwaitingDecree

Being Readied forSubmittal

SRBA Summaryas of October 11, 2005

SRBA Summaryas of October 11, 2005

Counts of Water Rights

I

II

IIII

II

III

I

IIIII

37

37

63

63

65

65I II

03

02

01- II

01- I

77

6337

51

81

65

55

34

36

83

35

29

47

72

67

75

31 21

57

85

27

79

43

74

61

32

45

25

33

22

82

23

73

86

84

78

69

71

24

41

SRBA Investigation Start Datesfor Director's Reports for

Irrigation and Other Claims

In Progress

Preliminary Findings Distributed

Completed

Snake River Basin Adjudication

Director’s ReportsFor Irrigation and Other Rights

In ProgressPreliminary Findings DistributedCompleted

Establishment of Water Districts

Establishment of Water Districts

• 42-602. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT 42-602. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES TO SUPERVISE OF WATER RESOURCES TO SUPERVISE WATER DISTRIBUTION WITHIN WATER WATER DISTRIBUTION WITHIN WATER DISTRICTS.DISTRICTS. The director of the department of The director of the department of water resources shall have direction and control water resources shall have direction and control of the distribution of water from all natural water of the distribution of water from all natural water sources within a water district to the canals, sources within a water district to the canals, ditches, pumps and other facilities diverting ditches, pumps and other facilities diverting therefrom. Distribution of water within water therefrom. Distribution of water within water districts created pursuant to section 42-604, districts created pursuant to section 42-604, Idaho Code, shall be accomplished by Idaho Code, shall be accomplished by watermasters as provided in this chapter and watermasters as provided in this chapter and supervised by the director.supervised by the director.

Basin 45 IssuesBasin 45 Issues

Oakley Fan Ground Water Management Oakley Fan Ground Water Management

• 4 Critical Ground Water Areas (date established)4 Critical Ground Water Areas (date established) Artesian City (1967)Artesian City (1967) Cotton Wood (1967)Cotton Wood (1967) Oakley-Kenyon (1967)Oakley-Kenyon (1967) West Oakley Fan (1982)West Oakley Fan (1982)

• Areas are contiguousAreas are contiguous

• IDWR studies indicated all water fully appropriatedIDWR studies indicated all water fully appropriated

• No new appropriations allowed after designationNo new appropriations allowed after designation

Oakley Fan Ground Water HydrologyOakley Fan Ground Water Hydrology

• Four aquifers:Four aquifers: Deeper AquifersDeeper Aquifers

RhyoliteRhyolite LimestoneLimestone

Shallower AquifersShallower Aquifers BasaltBasalt AlluviumAlluvium

• Connections between the aquifers are not fully Connections between the aquifers are not fully understoodunderstood

• Faulting and surface water affect ground water Faulting and surface water affect ground water movement and flow directionmovement and flow direction

Oakley Fan Ground Water ConditionsOakley Fan Ground Water Conditions

• Each aquifer exhibits different characteristics Each aquifer exhibits different characteristics Generally:Generally: Shallow Aquifers more responsive to wet and dry Shallow Aquifers more responsive to wet and dry

cyclescycles Shallow Aquifers have more stable water levelsShallow Aquifers have more stable water levels Deeper Aquifers continue to show declinesDeeper Aquifers continue to show declines Some water levels have declined as much as 200 Some water levels have declined as much as 200

feet or more since 1950s: 100 foot declines are not feet or more since 1950s: 100 foot declines are not uncommonuncommon

• Ground water level information suggests Ground water level information suggests overdraft continuesoverdraft continues

Representative HydrographsRepresentative Hydrographs

Shallow Aquifer (Basalt)Shallow Aquifer (Basalt)

Well Open 40-638 feetWell Open 40-638 feet

Deep Aquifer (Rhyolite)Deep Aquifer (Rhyolite)

Well Open 735-750 feetWell Open 735-750 feet

W ELL 12S19E-02BBB1

500

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

3800

3850

3900

3950

4000

4050

4100

4150

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00

W E LL 11S 20E -33D A D 1

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

3900

3950

4000

4050

4100

4150

4200

4250

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00

Representative HydrographsRepresentative Hydrographs

Shallow Aquifer (Basalt)Shallow Aquifer (Basalt)

Well Open 282-346 feetWell Open 282-346 feet

Deep Aquifer (Limestone)Deep Aquifer (Limestone)

Well Open 80-850 feet Well Open 80-850 feet

W ELL 13S21E-18BBC 1

650

600

550

500

450

400

4300

4350

4400

4450

4500

4550

4600

50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05

W E LL 11S 23E -34C D C 1

450

400

350

300

250

200

3800

3850

3900

3950

4000

4050

55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05

Basin 45 Ground Water Rights & Ground Water Management Basin 45 Ground Water Rights & Ground Water Management

• SRBA Expansion RightsSRBA Expansion Rights

- - Approximately 60 expansion claims in Approximately 60 expansion claims in the the four Oakley CGWA’s, affecting overfour Oakley CGWA’s, affecting over

11,500 acres (June 30, 1985 11,500 acres (June 30, 1985 priority orpriority or later)later)

Basin 45 Ground Water Rights & Ground Water Management Basin 45 Ground Water Rights & Ground Water Management

• SRBA Enlargement RightsSRBA Enlargement Rights

- - Outside of Oakley CGWA’s, there areOutside of Oakley CGWA’s, there areabout 34 enlargement rightsabout 34 enlargement rightsaffecting over 2,600 acres affecting over 2,600 acres (April 12, 1994 priority)(April 12, 1994 priority)

Standards for Creating a New Water District

Standards for Creating a New Water District

a)a) Systematic inventory of diversionsSystematic inventory of diversionsb)b) Evaluate needs for sub-districts/deputy Evaluate needs for sub-districts/deputy

watermasterswatermastersc)c) Require measuring devices & headgates as Require measuring devices & headgates as

neededneededd)d) Regularly visit diversions & record measurementsRegularly visit diversions & record measurementse)e) EnforcementEnforcementf)f) Annual Reports & BudgetsAnnual Reports & Budgets

Water District RequirementsWater District Requirements

• Utilize technologyUtilize technology GIS and GPSGIS and GPS Remote sensingRemote sensing Remote ET determinationsRemote ET determinations

• IDWR will fund a full time IDWR will fund a full time equivalent for two years, if elected equivalent for two years, if elected as Watermasteras Watermaster

Water District Requirements, cont.Water District Requirements, cont.

Thoughts for the FutureThoughts for the Future

• Implementation of conjunctive Implementation of conjunctive administration will be an evolving administration will be an evolving processprocess

• Optimal results will be achieved via Optimal results will be achieved via collaborative efforts between water collaborative efforts between water users, delivery organizations, and users, delivery organizations, and IDWRIDWR

Thoughts for the Future (cont.)Thoughts for the Future (cont.)

• IDWR Formal Hearing here, 7 pm, IDWR Formal Hearing here, 7 pm, Thursday, December 15Thursday, December 15

Moving toward creation

Water District 140