Idaho Aquifer Sustainability Recharge: Interface of Quantity & Quality John K. Simpson Western States Water Council Fall Workshop October 6, 2015
Factors Effecting Declines in the ESPA Increase in GW Diversions Increase in surface water irrigation efficiencies (i.e. less incidental recharge) Winter Water Savings Flow Augmentation Releases Changing Climate
Managed Recharge Definition Statute History Prospective Uses Interface of Quality & Quantity Efforts to Recharge vs. Efforts to Monitor Facts
Managed Recharge Artificial or Managed Recharge is defined as the artificial placement of water from a different source into a ground water aquifer Source water can be from a river, lake or separate aquifer
Managed Recharge Occurs when surface water or treated wastewater is intentionally added to an aquifer or the zone of saturation below the water table Conducted through: 1. Injection wells Requires high quality source water Lower volume, more expensive Regulated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program was delegated by EPA to the IDWR in 1985 Permit is required by IDWR 2. Surface infiltration/land application: by applying water to the land surface Infiltration best suited for untreated water Large volumes, low cost Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) has authority to approve Ground Water Quality Monitoring Programs for recharge by land application
Managed Recharge Land Application IDEQ is authorized by Idaho Wastewater Rules (IDAPA 58.01.16.600) to require and approve a program to monitor ground water quality when surface waters are land applied Each project is reviewed on case by case basis Ground Water Monitoring Program should include: Project Description Recharge Area Characterization Evaluation of Potential Impacts Water Quality Monitoring Program Management Practices Monitoring Program requirements are dependent upon: 1. The nature and volume of wastewater material or recharge water 2. The frequency and duration of application 3. The characteristics of the soil mantle on and lithology underlying the application site IDAPA, 58.01.16.04 A-C
Idaho Statute Title 42, Chapter 2, Section 234 TITLE 42: IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE -- WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION CHAPTER 2: APPROPRIATION OF WATER -- PERMITS, CERTIFICATES, AND LICENSES -- SURVEY 42-234. GROUND WATER RECHARGE -- AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT TO GRANT PERMITS AND LICENSES. 1) It is the policy of the state of Idaho to promote and encourage the optimum development and augmentation of the water resources of this state. The legislature deems it essential, therefore, that water projects designed to advance this policy be given maximum support. The legislature finds that the use of water to recharge ground water basins in accordance with Idaho law and the state water plan may enhance the full realization of our water resource potential by furthering water conservation and increasing the water available for beneficial use. 2) The legislature hereby declares that the appropriation of water for purposes of ground water recharge shall constitute a beneficial use of water. The director of the department of water resources is authorized to issue permits and licenses for the purpose of ground water recharge, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and in compliance with other applicable Idaho law and the state water plan.
Idaho Statute Title 42, Chapter 2, Section 234, continued TITLE 42: IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE -- WATER RIGHTS AND RECLAMATION CHAPTER 2: APPROPRIATION OF WATER -- PERMITS, CERTIFICATES, AND LICENSES -- SURVEY 42-234. GROUND WATER RECHARGE -- AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT TO GRANT PERMITS AND LICENSES. 3) The director of the department of water resources may regulate the amount of water which may be diverted for recharge purposes and may reduce such amount, even though there is sufficient water to supply the entire amount originally authorized by permit or license. To facilitate necessary financing of an aquifer recharge project, the director may fix a term of years in the permit or license during which the amount of water authorized to be diverted shall not be reduced by the director under the provisions of this subsection. 4) To ensure that other water rights are not injured by the operations of an aquifer recharge project, the director of the department of water resources shall have the authority to approve, disapprove or require alterations in the methods employed to achieve ground water recharge. In the event that the director determines that the methods of operation are adversely affecting existing water rights or are creating conditions adverse to the beneficial use of water under existing water rights, the director shall order the cessation of operations until such alterations as may be ordered by the director have been accomplished or such adverse effects otherwise have been corrected. 5) The legislature further recognizes that incidental ground water recharge benefits are often obtained from the diversion and use of water for various beneficial purposes. However, such incidental recharge may not be used as the basis for claim of a separate or expanded water right. Incidental recharge of aquifers which occurs as a result of water diversion and use that does not exceed the vested water right of water right holders is in the public interest. The values of such incidental recharge shall be considered in the management of the state's water resources.
History of Managed Recharge Eastern Snake Plain Managed Recharge Studies of ESPA managed recharge by the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB), Bureau of Reclamation and others date back to 1962 1969 Idaho Department of Reclamation (IDWR) developed a steady-state model recharging 3.7 million AF over 10 years at four ESP sites 1970-1974 IWRB undertakes Pilot Recharge Project at St. Anthony 1978 Legislation authorizing formation of Lower Snake River Aquifer Recharge District; LSRARD was granted water right permits for recharge purposes with a 1980 priority date 1981 Water Board Upper Snake Recharge Report Estimated costs for developing Egin Lakes site into a large-scale recharge project
History of Managed Recharge, continued Eastern Snake Plain Managed Recharge 1992-1997 SWID and Federal Government High Plains Ground Water Recharge Demonstration Project consisted of 13 injection wells; 23, 154 AF recharged over 5 years 1995-2000 Water Board and WD01 Recharge Program Legislature SB 1260 authorized and funded the Board to operate recharge program which was delegated to WD01 1999 Water Board acquires recharge water rights from LSRARD in order to capture occasional flood flows for recharge in excess of the diversion limits of the two LSRARD rights (01-7054 and 37-7842) 1999 IDWR issues managed recharge feasibility report; report generally over-estimated infiltration and under-estimated construction costs
History of Managed Recharge, continued Eastern Snake Plain Managed Recharge 2005 - Legislature directed IWRB to undertake ESPA managed recharge program (HB 372, HB392, and HCR28) 2008 - IDWR Director clarified the relative priority of the Water Board s recharge water right v. hydropower generation water rights at Milner Dam, removing a major hurdle to implementing a sustainable recharge program 2014 Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 547, dedicating $5 million annually in state Cigarette Tax revenue to be used by the IWRB for statewide aquifer stabilization Aug. 2015 SWC Delivery Call Settlement and Term Sheet Goal stabilize and ultimately reverse the trend of declining ground water levels and return ground water levels to a level equal to the average of the aquifer levels from 1991-2001
Managed Recharge Prospective Uses: Sustainability/Replenishment of Depleted Aquifers Drought Response Water Quality and Water Supply Mitigation Low cost storage of large volumes that may otherwise flow out of the basin Mitigation - Conjunctive Management Primarily used to mitigate ground water withdrawals or ground water quality
Managed Recharge Quality Monitoring Ground Water Quality Plan Adopted in 1992 under Idaho Code 39-102 Monitoring Policy V-C: The policy of the State of Idaho is that any program designed specifically for the artificial recharge of ground water, existing or proposed, be consistent with the policies and management objectives for water quality and quantity Policy V-C was adopted because artificial recharge has the potential to significantly impact the quality of ground water. DEQ is directed to work cooperatively with other state agencies to: Develop Guidelines Develop Management Practices Develop Rules to insure that artificial ground water recharge projects comply with the Ground Water Quality Plan (1992)
Managed Recharge Quality Monitoring Guidance for Developing a Ground Water Quality Monitoring Program for Managed Recharge Projects by Land Application Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, April 2006 (Revised June 2010) https://www.deq.idaho.gov/media/471874- recharge_guidance_0610_revision.pdf
Managed Recharge Quality Monitoring Main concern with quality is water transmitted pathogens: Bacteria E. Coli Shigella sp. Protozoa Giardia Cryptosporidium Enteroviruses Poliovirus Hepatitis A IDEQ Monitoring Plan must demonstrate: That soil and geology at recharge site provide the level of treatment that will not allow movement of contaminants into the underlying ground water Soils/vegetative cover are capable of removing contaminants from the recharge water Approved monitoring plan must also include: Water Quality Sampling, Frequency and Reporting appropriate for the recharge site and existing water quality
Managed Recharge Quantity Contracting two party annual, renewable contracts between IWRB and canal companies, essentially available to all Allows use of recharge rights after senior irrigation rights are used Extends the time water is in canals Reporting measurements made by canal personnel, subject to verification by IDWR and WD01 Verification reports submitted to IWRB Payment upon approval of recharge reports, payment made to canal company by IWRB
Factors that Define ESPA Recharge How to get water in ground? Unlined canals that divert from river and cross the plain Most cost effective way to divert & recharge large volumes of water contract with canal companies & irrigation districts to carry water to recharge Supplement with spreading/spill basins Injection wells used in a few cases
Managed Recharge Quantity Source: ESPA Managed Recharge Update, Upper Snake River Advisory Committee Meeting Wesley Hipke, April 8, 2015 IDWR
Managed Recharge Efforts to Recharge Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan (CAMP) Mitigation Development Efforts to Monitor Quality Drinking Supply End Uses
Managed Recharge Efforts to Recharge CAMP Approved as a component of the State Water Plan by the 2009 Legislature through HB 264 Recognized an annual water budget deficit in the ESPA of 600,000 acre-feet, which could be rectified over a 30-year term at a cost of $600 million Implementation divided into two phases due to high cost and long time frame Phase 1: Estimated to take 10 years and achieve a 200,000 to 300,000 acre-foot annual water budget adjustment to the ESPA; 100,000 acre-feet of which would annual be provided through recharge Phase 2: Would provide the remainder of the water budget adjustment (300,000 to 600,000 acre feet) and would include additional recharge, additional demand reduction and possibly new surface water storage
Managed Recharge Efforts to Recharge Mitigation ESPA Managed Recharge Program Mitigation Goal to develop a managed recharge program in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) capable of recharging 250,000 acre-feet per year to stabilize the ESPA. Metric of success is sustaining aquifer volume and spring discharges in the ESPA.
Managed Recharge Efforts to Recharge Development of a monitoring and measuring program is underway to assess results and impacts of recharge activities and address regulatory requirements Program consists of regional and site-specific monitoring including measurement of ground water levels, surface water flows, recharge diversions, and data collection quality control IWRB contracted with CH2MHill to provide an independent review of the ESPA Managed Recharge Program, scheduled to be complete in November 2015
Managed Recharge Efforts to Monitor Quality DEQ Monitoring program includes a monitoring schedule, sample points, and a full suite of chemical, biological and physical elements that are analyzed to determine the source water and groundwater quality Drinking Supply Rules governing drinking water quality that would become applicable if managed recharge affects drinking water supplies IDAPA, 58.01.08 End-Uses Clear Springs Foods Fish Propagation
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