Grand View-Bruneau Ground Water Management Area

The Grand View-Bruneau GWMA is located in north-central Owyhee County, south of the Snake River. The management area was designated on October 29, 1982, due to increased and projected increases in ground water withdrawal and declines in spring flows from the geothermal aquifer system.

Since designation, the only new ground water diversions have been for domestic use and a Desert Land Entry development that had been pending. The Department has also worked with well owners to eliminate leakage or unrestricted flow (State of Idaho, 1998). A management plan has not been developed nor has an advisory committee been formed.

The impact of ground water development on spring flows has been studied by various researchers as a result of the listing of the Bruneau Hot Springs snail as an Endangered Species in 1993. The snail’s dependency on hot springs for its habitat has resulted in studies to evaluate the impact of ground water pumping on spring discharges.

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.