News Release Archive

Boise River Flows Set to Increase

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@usbr.gov
Brian Sauer, bsauer@usbr.gov

For Release: March 17, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase flows from Lucky Peak Dam on Monday, March 21, to help reduce the risk of flooding later this spring which can occur with precipitation and rapidly melting snow. The increased flows are due to a good reservoir carryover from the 2010 season and near normal snow pack conditions.

Current water storage in Boise River reservoirs is about 68 percent of capacity. Flows will increase from 250 cubic feet per second to 1,000 cfs at the Glenwood Bridge gauging station. These flows are comparable to typical late summer levels. Flows could potentially increase to between 3,000 and 5,000 cfs in coming months as system inflows increase. A flow rate of 7,000 cfs is considered flood-stage level at the Glenwood Bridge gauge.

Officials are advising people to be aware of the danger associated with these increased flows. The water is deep, velocities are high, and water temperatures are near 45 degrees. Extreme caution should be used when near the river banks.

Water managers anticipate that a full supply of irrigation water will be available this season.

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