News Release Archive

Flows to Increase on the Owyhee River

Media Contact: Diana Cross, (208) 378-5020, dcross@pn.usbr.gov
Ryan Hedrick, rhedrick@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: March 30, 2006

The Owyhee Irrigation District is issuing a warning to those downstream from Owyhee Dam of possible increases in flows from Owyhee Reservoir over the next several days. These increases are necessary due to continuing precipitation in the area and a need to prepare for flood control operations. Owyhee Dam is located on the Owyhee River in Oregon, about 50 miles west of Boise, Idaho

Releases from the reservoir are currently at a rate of about 1,550 cubic feet per second. The increased runoff is a result of higher than normal snow pack and warm and wet weather conditions over the last week. Flows could increase up to 3,000 to 5,000 cfs.

Downstream flow rates between Owyhee Dam and the Snake River will fluctuate to sustain the necessary reservoir storage requirements. The higher flows are expected to occur during the next few weeks.

Owyhee Dam was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1932 and is operated and maintained by the Owyhee Irrigation District.

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