Groundwater Quality and Quantity Trends in the Middle Snake River Region, South-Central Idaho
Groundwater-quality and groundwater-level data have been collected by the USGS and various state agencies in the mid-Snake area since at least the early 1990s. However, no trend analyses have been conducted on the data since 2012. Assessing groundwater-quality trends will help resource managers determine if they should continue or modify current nutrient management practices. Groundwater-level trend analyses will assist the Idaho Water Resource Board’s efforts to recharge the ESRP aquifer.
Existing groundwater-quality data will be compiled from all available sources for Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Twin Falls Counties. Specifically, nutrients in groundwater (nitrate and phosphorus) will be analyzed. The data will be filtered for comparability amongst the different sources (for example, similar species of nitrate or phosphorus in groundwater). Seasonality will be addressed by only comparing groundwater quality data from similar months or seasons.
Groundwater levels will also be compiled for the two USGS National Water Quality Program’s 30-well networks and assessed for temporal and spatial trends.
Groundwater-quality and groundwater-level data have been collected by the USGS and various state agencies in the mid-Snake area since at least the early 1990s. However, no trend analyses have been conducted on the data since 2012. Assessing groundwater-quality trends will help resource managers determine if they should continue or modify current nutrient management practices. Groundwater-level trend analyses will assist the Idaho Water Resource Board’s efforts to recharge the ESRP aquifer.
Existing groundwater-quality data will be compiled from all available sources for Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Twin Falls Counties. Specifically, nutrients in groundwater (nitrate and phosphorus) will be analyzed. The data will be filtered for comparability amongst the different sources (for example, similar species of nitrate or phosphorus in groundwater). Seasonality will be addressed by only comparing groundwater quality data from similar months or seasons.
Groundwater levels will also be compiled for the two USGS National Water Quality Program’s 30-well networks and assessed for temporal and spatial trends.