LPRV Aquifer Management: Introduction

Pocatello and Chubbuck are totally dependent on the lower Portneuf Valley aquifer for all domestic drinking water needs, as well as all commercial, industrial, and irrigation needs. Note how water use has risen with population over the past 50 years.

The large swings in amounts of ground water extracted from the aquifer are primarily due to annual fluctuations in local rainfall - during wet, cool
summers, residents and other irrigation users require less water to keep the valley green; whereas, in hot, dry summers, more ground water must be pumped to meet irrigation demand. Note the per capita use rate in Pocatello/Chubbuck for 1999 is far lower than that of the rest of Bannock County because the County use rate reflects all agricultural uses. Even so, Pocatello/Chubbuck's per capita use rate is among the highest of Idaho cities.