Groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022, in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Idaho

Abstract

First posted September 27, 2023 For additional information, contact: Director, Idaho Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey230 Collins RoadBoise, Idaho 83702-4520 The U.S. Geological Survey and the Idaho Department of Water Resources measured groundwater levels during spring 2022 and autumn 2022 to create detailed potentiometric-surface maps for the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley in south-central Idaho. Wells were assigned to shallow, intermediate, and deep water-bearing units based on well depth, groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude, and hydrogeologic unit. Potentiometric-surface contours were created for each of the three water-bearing units for spring 2022 and autumn 2022. Groundwater flow generally follows topography down valley to the south. The groundwater-level data also were used to calculate changes in groundwater levels from spring to autumn 2022 and from historical measurement events in 1968 and 1991 to 2022. Groundwater levels declined at most wells from spring 1968 to spring 2022 and from spring 1991 to spring 2022. Although groundwater-level changes are sensitive to interannual wet and dry periods, long-term groundwater-level declines suggest that recharge and down-valley groundwater flows are insufficient to fully recover groundwater-level declines from pumping in some parts of the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley.