FAQ : Water Impacts
M3’s objective is to work closely with neighbors and the Eagle community, listen well and keep the community informed about the process and progress of the master-planned community of M3 Eagle.
M3 is conducting an in-depth study, at an estimated cost of $1,000,000, of the groundwater conditions for the entire Eagle community and the larger regional area. The study uses the services of the University of Idaho and Boise State University and is the most extensive ever done for the area. The study has been going on for a year and a Year One Progress Report has been published. M3 is as concerned about the long term viability of the aquifer as anyone. M3 is making long term business decisions based upon a horizon of 20 years (the build-out of M3 Eagle) which only works if the water is available to execute the business plan. It is as important to M3 to assure its future residents that a long-term supply of water is available as it is to the citizens of Eagle and the neighbors of M3 Eagle.
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The study shows that a highly productive aquifer with good water quality underlies the west half of the M3 Eagle planned community and parts of the North Foothills area. All analyses conducted to date show a high likelihood that adequate ground water supplies exist beneath the property to support the development of M3 Eagle.
back to topM3 has implemented a significant groundwater monitoring program to document groundwater conditions prior to development to be able to assess what impacts our withdrawals will have on the aquifer and existing wells over time. Monitoring will continue throughout development of M3 Eagle and beyond. M3 is committed to helping to mitigate unreasonable and damaging interference effects as a result of its water development whether this would require lowering of a pump in a nearby well or even deepening a well in an extreme case.
back to topThe existing proliferation of individual wells in the area is inefficient and in some cases polluting the aquifer due to poor drilling and maintenance practices. M3 Eagle will have its own self-contained central water system that will be fed from a few community wells instead of thousands of individual wells.
back to topM3 is developing water conservation and landscape criteria to ensure responsible application of water for both irrigation and in-home appliances. M3 is also working with the Eagle Sewer District to develop treatment facilities that will produce reuse water for irrigation to further diminish reliance on groundwater for landscape purposes. Reuse of effluent for irrigation will reduce M3 Eagle’s ground water withdrawal by approximately 3,500 acre feet annually at build-out.
back to topM3 filed a water right application for the property with the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) in November, 2006 and amended it in August, 2007 to show a reduced water need. IDWR is expected to begin processing the application this fall with hearings later in the year. M3 also has existing water rights on the western part of the property from the Farmer’s Union Canal Company.
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