Curlew Valley Critical Ground Water Area

Curlew Valley is located in southeastern Idaho in Oneida and Power counties and extends south into Utah. The Curlew Valley CGWA was designated on March 15, 1976. Designation was based on concern that there was not sufficient ground water supply for existing irrigation uses or to fulfill pending applications and permits.

The geographic and hydrogeologic boundaries extend into Utah. In the southern part of the basin, Locomotive Springs is an area of discharge for the aquifer and a Utah state wildlife management area. The State of Utah expressed concern that increased ground water withdrawals in Idaho were impacting the spring flows.

No further studies have been conducted since designation of the CGWA to determine adequacy of supply or impacts on spring flows. A management plan has not been developed for the area nor has an advisory committee been formed.

Ground water levels in wells are measured periodically in the area. Current hydrographs of the wells can be viewed using the Online Ground Water Level Database or figures showing annually-updated hydrographs for selected wells can be viewed here.