Treasure Valley Groundwater Flow Model

In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with IDWR embarked on a five-year project to construct a numerical groundwater-flow model of the Treasure Valley and surrounding area. Resource managers will use the model for water-supply planning and management. As part of model construction, the hydrogeologic understanding of the aquifer system was updated with information collected during the last two decades as well as new data collected for the study. Funding for the project was provided by the USGS and by the Idaho Water Resource Board through a special appropriation from the Idaho Legislature for statewide aquifer stabilization and sustainability studies (see Senate Concurrent Resolution 137).A technical advisory committee provides for transparency in model development and facilitates stakeholder input. Additional information describing the collaborative USGS-IDWR Treasure Valley groundwater-flow model development project is provided in the project summary.

USGS published a data release of the final model in January 2023 and published the final model report in September 2023.