Characterizing the Water Resources of the Camas Prairie, Southern Idaho
USGS Streamgage 13141500, Camas Creek near Blaine, Idaho
Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a vital resource for irrigation on the eastern Snake River Plain around the communities of Gooding, Shoshone, and Richfield. Resource planning requires accurate information about how much water Camas Creek and other streams contribute to Magic Reservoir.
Likewise, groundwater is a critical resource in the basin. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about groundwater sustainability. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs an updated hydrogeologic analysis of the Camas Prairie to guide their administration of water rights in the groundwater management area designated in 1991.
How the USGS is Helping
The USGS will analyze and quantify the surface-water and groundwater resources of the Camas Prairie to develop a hydrogeologic framework and a water budget. A hydrogeologic framework is a conceptual model that describes where groundwater is and is not and how geology controls groundwater movement. The water budget quantifies all the water coming into and leaving the basin to determine the basin's contribution to Magic Reservoir.
Approach
- research and analyze prior hydrologic and geologic projects and collected information in the study area
- complete a field trip led by the Idaho Geological Survey with colleagues from the Idaho Department of Water Resources to inspect local geology features
- conduct two synoptic groundwater-level measurements of wells in the study area
- collect surface and borehole geophysics
- develop a digital borehole database and use it to create a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model
- publish hydrogeologic framework model documentation and data
To develop the water budget:
- research and analyze prior studies and water resource budget components for the study area
- estimate surface-water and groundwater budget components; inflows (e.g., precipitation, applied irrigation recharge, stream and canal seepage, mountain front recharge, and septic system effluent recharge) and outflows (e.g., groundwater pumping, spring discharge, evapotranspiration) and calculate change in storage
- publish water budget documentation and data
The study is estimated to conclude in Spring 2027.
These projects are related to the Camas Prairie project.
Characterizing the Water Resources of the Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho
Characterizing the Water Resources of the Big Lost River Valley
Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a vital resource for irrigation on the eastern Snake River Plain around the communities of Gooding, Shoshone, and Richfield. Resource planning requires accurate information about how much water Camas Creek and other streams contribute to Magic Reservoir.
Likewise, groundwater is a critical resource in the basin. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about groundwater sustainability. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs an updated hydrogeologic analysis of the Camas Prairie to guide their administration of water rights in the groundwater management area designated in 1991.
How the USGS is Helping
The USGS will analyze and quantify the surface-water and groundwater resources of the Camas Prairie to develop a hydrogeologic framework and a water budget. A hydrogeologic framework is a conceptual model that describes where groundwater is and is not and how geology controls groundwater movement. The water budget quantifies all the water coming into and leaving the basin to determine the basin's contribution to Magic Reservoir.
Approach
- research and analyze prior hydrologic and geologic projects and collected information in the study area
- complete a field trip led by the Idaho Geological Survey with colleagues from the Idaho Department of Water Resources to inspect local geology features
- conduct two synoptic groundwater-level measurements of wells in the study area
- collect surface and borehole geophysics
- develop a digital borehole database and use it to create a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model
- publish hydrogeologic framework model documentation and data
To develop the water budget:
- research and analyze prior studies and water resource budget components for the study area
- estimate surface-water and groundwater budget components; inflows (e.g., precipitation, applied irrigation recharge, stream and canal seepage, mountain front recharge, and septic system effluent recharge) and outflows (e.g., groundwater pumping, spring discharge, evapotranspiration) and calculate change in storage
- publish water budget documentation and data
The study is estimated to conclude in Spring 2027.
These projects are related to the Camas Prairie project.