MUD LAKE
Idaho Falls Area, Idaho

MAPS: Site Plan | Site Details

CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT: Deauthorized in 1990

PWI NUMBER: 72723

AUTHORIZATION: The Mud Lake project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950 (Public Law 81-516), and House Document 531, 81st Congress, 2d Session.

PROJECT: The Mud Lake area (photo) is a closed basin on Camas Creek, 20 miles west and 50 miles north of Idaho Falls, in Jefferson County, Idaho. Mud Lake (photo) is formed by a 10-mile-long embankment constructed years ago by local farmers to confine the lake and make it possible to farm the surrounding lands, as well as to provide water elevation so that irrigation canals could deliver water to farms. Previous studies by the Corps indicated that extensive improvements to the embankments to bring them to Corps design standards were not economically feasible. The reconnaissance study determined that four alternatives have benefit-to-cost ratios that exceed unity:

Wildlife Refuge Enlargement: This alternative considers constructing a dike along the county road on the south side of this area, which could store approximately 22,000 acre-feet of floodwaters, and could also be managed to provide wildlife and irrigation benefits.

Jefferson Canal Diversion Pond: Additional pumps installed in Mud Lake could be used to transport water from the lake to a disposal area west of the lake via the existing Jefferson Canal. A dike would be required around the disposal area to prevent the flooding of adjacent cropland, and a canal from Mud Lake to the pump site would be necessary to ensure water availability to the pumps when gauge height reaches 8 feet.

Lone Tree Dam: Around 1920, a dam was built on Camas Creek to store irrigation water, but could not hold water due to fractures or lava tubes in the basalt under the reservoir. The dam was breached in 1924. The dam could be rebuilt, and water could be impounded during high runoff years.

Western Diversion: In 1969, the Corps constructed a diversion from Casa Creek along a former irrigation ditch to the east of Camas Creek. This diversion infiltrates approximately 500 cubic feet per second into the basalt formation, which eventually returns to Camas Creek as groundwater inflow. A similar diversion could be constructed to the west of Camas Creek, at the same diversion point, which could divert an additional 500 cubic feet per second.

PROGRESS: In 1990, a meeting was held with Mud Lake water users and the Jefferson Soil and Water conservation District on the subject of project sponsorship. Considerable interest in the Lone Tree Dam alternative was expressed by local people, but they asked to delay further study until a groundwater study was completed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The sponsor has not responded favorably to resuming the study due to financial concerns and, currently, there is no interest in renewing the study.

COST: Total Federal expenditures were $5,994.