How the Boise River is Moved

Idaho’s Treasure Valley has experienced immense population growth in the last 30 years that is projected to continue, placing new stresses on the Boise River as demand and usage demographics shift. Over the last century, much of the valley’s arid landscape has been transformed into agriculture through careful engineering of the river and canal system that it feeds. Using data from state and federal agencies and related studies and articles, this research focuses on how the Boise River has been engineered and managed over time in order to move water and transform the semi-arid landscape into the oasis it is today. Initial findings show complex interactions between surface and groundwater and the ways that crops are irrigated, flood control measures are managed, and canal systems are designed have profound effects on the quantity and quality of the Treasure Valley’s water supply. This research will contribute to the Treasure Valley Water Atlas, a data-rich website to be used as a resource for water users, lawmakers, stakeholders, and the public as they plan for the future of water in the Treasure Valley.