Raft River Critical Ground Water Area

The Raft River Critical Ground Water Area (CGWA) is located in southern Idaho in Cassia County. The area was originally designated a CGWA on July 23, 1963. Subsequent orders modified the boundaries, eliminating an area on the extreme northern boundary (August 2, 1965), the Albion basin (September 19, 1966), the area north of the Yale-Cotteral Road (November 3, 1970), and the upper Raft River Valley, Elba and Yost-Almo subbasins(June 30, 1977).

Large-scale ground water pumping in the Raft River valley began in 1950 and increased through the 1950s. USGS documented declining water levels and decreased stream flow in the Raft River from 1956 through 1960. By 1963, concern over the potential effects of new and increased ground water use caused the designation as a CGWA. Creation of the management area did not include formation of advisory committee or development of a management plan.

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.