News Release Archive

Boise River Flows Set to Increase

Media Contact: Kelly Bridges, (208) 378-5101, kbridges@usbr.gov
Brian Sauer, bsauer@usbr.gov

For Release: March 12, 2015

BOISE, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are increasing flows in the Boise River from 240 to 750 cubic-feet-per-second beginning March 13, 2015.

This increase in flow is due to good reservoir carryover from the 2014 season and a forecast of heavy rains and warm temperatures in the Boise basin. These releases will help reduce the risk of flooding later in the spring.

The increased flows at the Glenwood Bridge will initially be comparable to late summer levels. Further flow increases are possible, depending upon weather conditions. Currently, Boise River reservoirs are at approximately 77 percent of capacity. A full supply of irrigation water is anticipated this summer.

Please use extreme caution when recreating on or near the Boise River, as the increased flows will result in cold, fast, deep water.

Real-time water data at Reclamation facilities in the Pacific Northwest Region is available at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/rtindex/boise.html .

The Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation operate three dams on the Boise River as a system to manage flood control and irrigation storage needs — Lucky Peak Dam, Arrowrock Dam and Anderson Ranch Dam. Storage capacity provided by Reclamation's Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch dams, and the Corps' Lucky Peak Dam, combined with well-planned water releases, limited Boise River flows through the city of Boise during the 2011 flood season preventing approximately $277 million in potential flood damages.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/rtindex/boise.html