No water

[HaydenHunter]

We are sitting on top of the largest underground aquifer west of the Mississippi here in the northern Panhandle area of Idaho. Yet I worry that with rampant development here and in the adjoining Spokane, WA area (we've been discovered, you know) we could wake up some day and find the aquifer more drawn down than we ever imagined.

We've had a near normal precipitation year and for now there are no worries about water in local lakes.

 

[num70]

112 degrees in TX first week of May and Idaho, of all places, is running out of water.
Southwestern part of the country is going to be damn near uninhabitable in 20 years if this keeps up.

 

[Idahotim]

Clearwater, orofino

 

[Idahotim]

We are sitting on top of the largest underground aquifer west of the Mississippi here in the northern Panhandle area of Idaho. Yet I worry that with rampant development here and in the adjoining Spokane, WA area (we've been discovered, you know) we could wake up some day and find the aquifer more drawn down than we ever imagined.

We've had a near normal precipitation year and for now there are no worries about water in local lakes.

Clearwater, Orofino

 

[BigSkyDuk]

Here in idaho people want to breach the dams for fish , not realizing that they create power that is more sustainable than their wind power,and there solar power, but the fishing guides and the Indians want them removed. Personally I feel that if the Indians remove all the guil nets that so thick all across the Columbia River you could walk across you would see more fish, I also believe that it's not our job to provide a living for guides at the expense of taxpayers for higher energy costs to tare down dams. Not to get into just off the coasts of the US 200 mile boundary that you have China, Japan and who ever else over fishing international waters. Dams are not only a source of renewable energy but put in for flood control,and comrece for commercial supplies, the greater good comes from dams versus not.

Yep, energy generation would be another big reason to keep the dams we have and build more of them. Un-damed rivers are basically useless. Pretty to look at, but useless.

If you want more salmon, I suggest shooting seals and sea lions. But we can't do that, apparently.

 

[Idahotim]

Yep, energy generation would be another big reason to keep the dams we have and build more of them. Un-damed rivers are basically useless. Pretty to look at, but useless.

If you want more salmon, I suggest shooting seals and sea lions. But we can't do that, apparently.

Yep I forgot to add them

 

[BigSkyDuk]

Clearwater, Orofino

Just down Hwy 12... welcome, neighbor.

 

[Idahotim]

Thank you glad to be here

 

[hobbydog]

Only a couple areas of Idaho are short of average, the Henry's fork and Bear river which are both above 80%. Most of the rest of the state is well above normal, yet the talk of drought still is prevalent in the "news". One problem does exist, way more water usage in a state that is growing fast. The bigger question is probably not what is average, but how has the water demand risen. I've seen quite a few drought years over the past 30 years, this isn't one of them, at least in most of the state of Idaho. Only a few short years ago they were flooding the lower treasure valley because we had too much water. Those of us who live along the Snake River belt live in a desert of sage brush and tumbleweeds, if you don't put water on it in the summer things don't grow.

When they refer to water table, I assume that means aquifer and not surface water. I’m not a hydrologist but I think that is two different things.

 

[sdkidaho]

The bigger question is probably not what is average, but how has the water demand risen.

Yet I worry that with rampant development here and in the adjoining Spokane, WA area (we've been discovered, you know) we could wake up some day and find the aquifer more drawn down than we ever imagined.

This.

We have sub-division after sub-division going in. Everywhere.

A new rule here (at least in my county, not sure about the state yet) is that farmers who sell ground to be developed have to use some of their surface water rights to run a pump for lawn irrigation. Every lot they develop must be hooked to this pump, and those lots are to water their lawns from that system and not their personal well.

After the pandemic hit and people started to jump ship from where they lived before, they began to flood into areas like ours. Developments are everywhere. I can't think but that the impact on water is huge. That coupled with every "dry farmer" installing huge pivots over the last 30 years certainly makes a difference on the aquafer.

Kinda makes you wonder about huge civilizations from the past that just disappeared - was changes in water the issue? Could be.

I'm not worried and the sky isn't falling, but it certainly is interesting to watch. We'll survive. We always do.