Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region

Oxbow Incentivized Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

Background

Drought resiliency is important for the residents and economy of eastern Idaho. The Idaho Department of Water Resources describes two key hydrologic objectives of Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer recharge as, “restoring ground-water levels in the central part of the Plain and spring discharges in the Thousand Springs and American Falls reaches of the Snake River”. Aquifer recharge can allow for water storage to improve water reliability in the Eastern Snake River Plain and associated springs during future drought years.

SRVID was established in 1906 and incorporates approximately 21,000 irrigated acres of land in southeast Idaho’s Bingham County. To improve drought resiliency, SRVID applied for a Reclamation WaterSMART grant to repurpose existing ponds as recharge ponds. The project is located in Shelley, Idaho, adjacent to the Snake River at an elevation of 4,633 feet. Idaho Falls, Idaho, is located 10 miles to the northeast.

The EA analyzed two actions: No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action, implementing the project as described above. A No Action Alternative was evaluated to provide an appropriate basis by which the other alternative can be compared. Based on the analysis, the Proposed Action was selected.

Additional References

05/2020	Location Map PDF 1.37 mb