The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-01-12
ARTESIAN WATERS
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
BUREAU HYDROLOGIST POINTS TO
POORLY DEVELOPED NATURAL
RESOURCES.

A potentially valuable but as yet
poorly developed irrigation supply of
the state of Idaho is it's store of ar
tesian and other ground water,' said
paper by Arthur M. Piper, hydrolo-
gist with the state bureau of mines
and geology, before the Idaho Irriga-
tion congress at a recent meeting at
Boise Mr.. Piper was unable to be
present at the session and his paper
was read by r. e. Shepherd, of
Jerome, president of the Twin Falls
North Side Land and Water company
This situation was called to the
attention of this body at it's Nampa
meeting in January, 1921, by Francis
A. Thomson director of the state bu-
reau of mines and geology. Later that
same year a program of systematic
surveys of the artesian and other
ground water conditions in Idaho was
Iinaugurated by the three cooperating
organizations, the United States geo.
logical survey, the state bureau of
mines and geology, and the state de-
partment of reclamation. During the
summer of 1921, surveys were carried
on in three separate areas. The
United States geological survey CO.
operated with the state department of
reclamation in an investigation of the
ground water resources of the Mud
Lake region and with the state bureau
of mines in completing surveys of
the Pahsimeroi valley and of the
Goose creek basin.'
Artesian Water Conditions.
Mr.. Piper discussed at length the
conditions favorable to the accumula-
tion of artesian water bodies.
In the first place an artesian
water survey must prove or disprove
the existence of competent artesian
basin satisfying all the conditions out
lined. 1t gains its information as to
the character and structure of the
aquifier by studying the rocks in the
region wherever they crop out"
Results of findings on projects al
ready completed, summary reports of
which have already been made public,
were contained in the paper. Possi-
bilities of the Goose creek basin in
the vicinity of Oakley, the Pahsimeroi
valley in Custer county, and the Mud
Lake territory which includes all Of
Clark and part of adjacent counties,
and the Bruneau river basin in Owy-
hee county, were completely dis
eussed.
Urges State Control.
" The underground waters of the
state of Idaho, whether artesian or
lot, constitute a natural resource that
hould be developed and conserved for
he benefit of the greatest possible
proportion of the public This re-
ource should be controlled by the
tate and, like the surface waters, be
O administered as to protect the
lights of proper development against
waste and over-development of the
upply.
g No we'll should be drilled without
ermit from some designated author
ty," is the first principal restriction
which Mr. Piper believes should be
nforced by law. He also advocated
a properly compiled record of all
acts concerning each well drilled;
very drilled we'll in an artesian basin
hould be properly cased; every ar
ssian we'll should be provided with
suitable cap which should be kept
losed when not in use; and every
bandoned hole in an artesian basin
hould be completely filled with i'm
ervious material.
Artesian Projects Feasible.
In conclusion the situation may be
ummed up as follows: The surveys
f the Goose creek and Bruneau river
asins, of the Pahsimeroi valley, and
f the Mud Lake region have shown
nat it is economically feasible to de-
elop artesian or other ground water
/ these areas for irrigation purposes.
.lso it is believed that similar condi-
ions apply to very large part OF
outhern Idaho
"In order that the greatest poss-
,le benefit may be derived from this
atural resource two things are de-
irable: first, that the artesian waters
the state be put Immediately under
legislative control and administered
v some proper authority; second,
1at a thorough and systematic sur
ey of the ground water resources
f the state be pushed to completion
S soon as may be, to show where
lccessful development can probably
e made and to prevent the Inaugural
on of ill-advised projects. 1t is to
e hoped that means to this end
an be found in the near future"