Back from CAMP… Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan
I am excited to share the exciting and profound work that I have been a part of in southeast Idaho. Working intensely for three years in Idaho has changed the way I approach collaborative natural resource problems, including a renewed respect for the complexities of managing a system as large as the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) and the Snake River. Facilitating conjunctive management (surface and groundwater) disputes are some the most vexing and complicating I have experienced. It has been fascinating, challenging, and rewarding. After such effort, a consensus agreement was reached on the ESPA aquifer management.
Water is a unifying and critical feature of life in southeast Idaho. The ESPA covers 29,000 square miles in southeastern Idaho – approximately 35% of the State’s land, all or part of 20 counties, and an area that is inhabited by 1/3 of Idaho’s population. Irrigated agriculture, cities and counties, fish and wildlife, hydropower, an aquaculture industry, and many others depend on the water in the ESPA and the hydrologically connected Snake River. The economic value of goods and services produced in the ESPA region is estimated at $10 billion in 2006. Agriculture holds the most significant segment of the local economy and is the largest consumptive user of water. Though relatively small compared to agricultural uses, domestic, commercial, municipal, and industrial water use is also increasing. Providing for these uses is vital to the future growth of state and local economies. A decline in the aquifer and Snake River levels has resulted in a significant dispute between water users and created the need for a negotiated plan to manage the resource. In response to ongoing litigation and conflict the Idaho Water Resource Board hired CDR Associates to facilitate the development of a Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan (CAMP).
During our initial interviews with stakeholders an analogy was made multiple times between Idaho and the Middle East. One stakeholder said, “the ESPA issue is a lot like the Palestinian/Israeli conflict – there are no real answers to the problem, and the culture of fighting subsumes most legitimate policy discussion and debate.” Contrary to this operating mindset, a CAMP was initiated and developed through tough negotiation and compromise among water users.
The CAMP Framework (2006) resulted in increased recognition that supply of and demands for water are out of balance, making more deliberate and coordinated management of surface waters of the Snake River and the underground waters of the ESPA a necessity. The declining trends are a result of changes in surface water irrigation practices, extended drought, and groundwater pumping.
The Framework also called for an Advisory Committee to recommend a plan to the Board. The ESPA Advisory Committee (2007) comprised of representatives from irrigation companies, groundwater users, spring water users, hydropower, land developers, environmental/conservation interests, well owners, county assessors and mayors of cities within the ESPA. This forum allowed the diverse and divergent interest groups to express their differences and work together in spite of their differences. The Advisory Committee met 18 times over the course of 2 years. Through difficult and complex negotiations the Committee developed agreement on the management actions, priorities, and funding strategies.
The CAMP sets forth a long-term plan for managing water supply and demand in the ESPA and a phased approach to implementation. The CAMP hydrologic vision is to achieve, in increments, a net ESPA water budget change of 600 thousand acre-feet (kaf) annually. It is expected that this hydrologic goal can be achieved by the year 2030 through implementation of a mix of management measures including, but not limited to, aquifer recharge, ground-to-surface water conversions, and demand reduction strategies. The intent of the CAMP is to guide actions which stabilize and improve spring flows, aquifer levels, and river reaches across the Eastern Snake Plain. To learn more about the ESPA, check out www.espaplan.idaho.gov.
Outside of the fascinating work, personal highlights included eating fish and discussing and learning about the religious and historical development of the Idaho surface water development and later the groundwater irrigation. Stevo’s in Burley and Jakers’ restaurants are recommended. Travel on the other hand is usually quite difficult, though one of the most enjoyable flights is an early morning jump from Idaho Falls (near Yellowstone and the Wyoming border) to Denver. Taking off in the dark with the sky waking up to cast a surreal light on the Grand Tetons and Jackson Lake is something to see.
It was a pleasure to hear from our stakeholders, including thoughts from the following:
“In summary, we supports the balanced, collaborative approach of CAMP, and wants the plan implemented in a way that maximizes benefits to fish and wildlife. We hope that CAMP will become a model for collaborative, stakeholder-driven problem solving on challenging natural resource issues.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve as a member of the CAMP committee. I was privileged to meet and serve with a very dedicated and knowledgeable group of fellow citizens in a process that was dynamic and productive for all concerned.”
Thanks for your interest in the ESPA. Talk to you soon,
