A report released by the United States Geologic Survey showing significant declines in local surface and ground water resources will be the topic of two separate presentations today, Wednesday, Jan. 23.
The presentations, scheduled for noon at the Ketchum City Hall and 6 p.m. at the Old Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey, will be led by two of the study's authors, Kenneth Skinner and Jim Bartolino. The report is from the first of four phases of the study looking at surface- and ground-water resources in the Wood River Valley and the Silver Creek system.
Specifically, the report indicates that ground-water levels and streamflows in some parts of the valley are declining beyond what might be expected from typical, short-term fluctuations. The study was initiated due to local concerns related to growth and the long-term sustainability of the area's water supplies.
What the 40-page report doesn't answer is whether the declines are due to drought conditions, increased water use, or a combination of both factors. However, the findings do provide a base on which future measurements can build, allowing local decision-makers to document water resource trends with greater confidence, the USGS says.
As part of the study, the scientists working with the federal agency analyzed ground-water and streamflow trends and compared water resource conditions from 1952 through 1986 with data they collected in October of 2006.
In the trend analysis, the USGS scientists examined data for three wells and three streamflow gauges for which long-term data were available. The data for the three wells reportedly showed statistically significant downward trends in water levels. Data from one of the streamflow gauges also showed declines.
The other two streamflow gauges are located on local spring-fed streams, which the USGS scientists said makes them useful indicators of ground-water conditions.
"Data for those two gauges show decreasing flows during December, January and February," the USGS says.
During the meetings on Wednesday, Skinner and Bartolino will give a presentation on the first phase of the water study, give a briefing of the next three phases of the study and take questions. Log on to www.blainecounty.org to view the report.
