SHOSHONE LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lincoln County, Idaho

SHOSHONE LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Lincoln County, Idaho, United States. The plant serves a small population of 1,461 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet local sanitation needs. Its location in a rural area of southern Idaho places it within the broader context of decentralized wastewater management common in sparsely populated regions. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), facilities of this scale must meet effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity of 757.08 units and current discharge volume of 435.32 units indicate it operates below its maximum capacity, allowing for future growth or seasonal fluctuations. The treated effluent from SHOSHONE LAGOON likely discharges into a local watercourse that drains into the Snake River basin, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Snake River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for irrigation and recreation in the region. The plant's inland location, over 50 km from the coast, means its discharge has no direct marine impact, but it contributes to the overall water quality of the Snake River watershed.

SHOSHONE LAGOON discharges into a local water body that is part of the Snake River basin, which flows into the Columbia River and ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean. The Snake River supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and steelhead, making water quality management critical for downstream ecosystems. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting aquatic habitats in this arid region where water resources are heavily utilized for agriculture.