News Release Archive

A and B Irrigation District Pumping Plant Draft Environmental Assessment Released; Open House Slated for May 14

Media Contact: Kelly Bridges, (208) 378-5101, 05/02/2014 09:08

For Release: May 02, 2014

BURLEY, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed A&B Irrigation District Pumping Plant #2 for a 30-day comment period ending June 2. An informational open house will be held May 14 at the Best Western Burley Inn, 800 N. Overland Avenue, Burley, Idaho, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The Draft EA includes a no action alternative plus three alternatives that will permit delivery of surface water diverted from the Snake River. Each of the three action alternatives will improve inefficiencies in the existing delivery system and bring surface water supplies to areas previously served by ground water wells.

The ABID, located near Rupert, Idaho, is part of Reclamation’s Minidoka Project, North Side Pumping Division. ABID serves approximately 77,000 acres of irrigated land and is split into two major irrigated areas – Units A and B.

Over the past several decades, Unit B groundwater wells have steadily declined. To address this, plans were developed to install a pumping plant and associated distribution pipelines to provide supplemental water to lands with failing groundwater in Unit B and eliminate delivery constraints in the original Unit A configuration.

Approximately 62,000 acres (Unit B) are irrigated by pumping ground water from deep wells from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, and approximately 15,000 acres (Unit A) are irrigated by pumping surface water from the Snake River. The draft EA is available at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/abpumplant/index.html

Comments may be sent to jpetrovsky@usbr.gov or by mail to the Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: John Petrovsky at 230 Collins Rd., Boise, Idaho, or by phone at (208) 383-2224. For those planning to attend the open house and requiring accommodation as specified under the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact Don Bowden at (208) 678-0461 x13 at least one week in advance.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/abpumplant/index.html