Aquaculture,
the husbandry of aquatic plants and animals, is a
natural-resource based segment of Idaho's agricultural
economy. The Thousand Springs Reach of the Mid-Snake River
supplies high-quality spring water that is well oxygenated
and at the optimum temperature for rainbow trout. The
presence of these springs has allowed the industry to
develop into one of the largest aquaculture sectors in the
nation. Overall, Idaho is ranked within the top ten states
for aquaculture production and value.
The first
commercial trout farm was established in 1909 near Devil's
Corral just outside of Twin Falls. Today, Idaho is the
number one producer of rainbow trout in the nation. On
average, forty-one million pounds of rainbow trout are
produced annually, supplying 75% of domestic production
(table 1). In addition to rainbow trout, Snake River white
sturgeon, catfish, tilapia, ornamental fish, and even
alligators are farmed in the Magic Valley. Approximately 98%
of Idaho's aquaculture production occurs in Twin Falls,
Gooding, and Jerome Counties.
The Idaho
aquaculture industry is vertically integrated and includes;
equipment manufacturing, facility design and construction,
production, processing, feed production, fish health
diagnostic services, packaging, marketing, sales, and
distribution. There are around 80 fish farms throughout the
Magic Valley, with the majority of fish farms located in
Twin Falls and Gooding Counties. Two processing plants and a
value-added plant are located in Twin Falls County. There
are also three processing plants in Gooding County. Nearly
all the rainbow trout produced are processed for human
consumption, with an increasing proportion in recent years
being further processed into value-added products such as
boneless fillets, ready-to-eat and microwaveable meals,
jerky, spreads, and smoked products. Essentially all the
tilapia grown in Idaho (1.5 million pounds) are transported
life to Asian markets on the west coast and in Canada.
However, the majority of catfish and sturgeon are processed.
The alligators are processed both for meat and hides. Two
fish feed mills, located in Twin Falls County, supply 65-70%
of the feed used by the fish farms. Overall, directly and
indirectly, the industry employs 1,500 people and is valued
at 90 to 100 million dollars annually.
During the
past ten to fifteen years considerable improvements have
occurred in feed manufacture and waste management as a
result of university research and extension, which has
resulted in improved water quality exiting fish farms
thereby improving water quality in the mid-Snake. Total
phosphorus discharge has been reduced by approximately 30%
from 1990 baseline loads. The mid-Snake Total Maximum Daily
Load for total phosphorus mandates a 40% reduction in total
phosphorus by the aquaculture industry when the
Environmental Protection Agency issues new discharge
permits, anticipated sometime in 2006. Research and
Extension continues to address this issue, as well as the
industry, and it is expected that the industry will be able
to meet the 40% reduction.
Although
spring flows have declined since the mid-1950's, the current
drought has greatly exacerbated the situation resulting in a
water crisis for all water users. Hydrologists estimate the
aquifer is being depleted by over 400,000 acre-feet per
year. Managed aquifer recharge has the potential to reverse
the decline of ground water levels and decreased spring
flows. Recharge cannot be considered a panacea for all of
the aquifer's problems. It is, however, one of the most
important components necessary to restore this complex water
system. Collaborating with Bill Hazen, Gooding County
Extension Educator, the Idaho Water Alliance, and the Idaho
Farm Bureau Federation, we produced an informative and
educational video on managed aquifer recharge. Called "The
Invisible Drought," the goal of the video is to increase
understanding of water quantity issues and to facilitate
development of partnerships for more effective and sustained
solutions toward solving our invisible drought. There are
several obstacles that must be resolved before extensive
aquifer recharge is implemented and the support of the
counties in the Magic Valley will be vital to ensure
success.
