Availability and chemistry of ground water on the Bruneau Plateau and adjacent eastern plain in Twin Falls County, south-central Idaho
The Bruneau plateau in south-central Idaho consists of about 889,600 acres of irrigable land. About 112,200 acres have been developed for agriculture; 11,200 acres are irrigated with ground water, and 101,000 acres are irrigated with available surface water from the Snake and Bruneau Rivers and Salmon Falls Creek. On the basis of present usage, about 158,000 acre-feet per year of water are needed to develop an additional 63,000 acres. About 438,000 acre-feet per year are needed to irrigate existing and newly developed lands in dry years when streamflow in the Snake River at Milner Dam is inadequate to meet appropriated needs. Pumping lifts of about 400-600 feet and low well yields on the Bruneau plateau preclude large-scale irrigation development solely from the local ground-water resources. Supplemental sources of irrigation water beneath the plain adjacent to the Bruneau plateau include a perched-water aquifer, a thermal aquifer that underlies a large part of southwestern Idaho, and a regional aquifer. An estimated 100,000-115,000 acre-feet per year of water from the perched and regional aquifers could be withdrawn. The amount of water that could be safely withdrawn from the thermal aquifer was not determined. Water samples from a few wells contained concentrations of dissolved solids, pH, fluoride, chloride, or sulfate that exceeded either required or recommended drinking water limits. In general, however, most ground water in the area is suitable for domestic and stock use. High salinity in water from perched and regional aquifers beneath the Twin Falls South-Side Tract probably precludes using it to irrigate salt-sensitive crops. 32 refs., 13 figs., 7 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Boise, ID (USA). Water Resources Div.
- OSTI ID:
- 5529100
- Report Number(s):
- USGS/WRI-84-4065; ON: TI85901798
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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