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News Release Archive
Snake River Flows Increasing to Benefit Native Fish
Media Contact:
Kelly Bridges , (208) 378-5101, 05/08/2015 11:01
Roland Springer, rspringer@usbr.gov
For Release: May 08, 2015
HEYBURN, Idaho -- The Bureau of Reclamation will incrementally increase flow in the Snake River below Palisades Dam on May 11 to reach about 19,000 cubic feet per second on May 15. The flow will increase about 10 percent each night until the maximum is reached. The public is asked to use caution when recreating on or near the river as the water will be cold and fast during the high flow period.
Beginning May 18, flow will be reduced by 5 percent each day until a seasonal norm of about 13,000 cfs is reached.
"The peak of natural river flow is earlier than usual this year," said Michael Beus, Water Operations Manager for Reclamation's Upper Snake Field Office. "The objective is to provide the highest flow of the season to benefit native Yellowstone cutthroat trout at the same time natural snow melt peaks."
High flow in springtime helps balance the populations of native and non-native trout in the Snake River between Palisades Dam and the mouth of the Henrys Fork, and aids Idaho Department of Fish and Game management efforts.
Since the increased flow is timed to coincide with natural inflow, little, if any water already stored in Palisades Reservoir will be released. The water will be captured in American Falls Reservoir or delivered to water users downstream.
Current river and reservoir data are available at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/uppersnake/ . For more information about Reclamation programs, visit http://www.usbr.gov/pn/ .
The dams operated by Reclamation's Upper Snake Field Office are located on the Snake River and its tributaries upstream of Milner, Idaho. Palisades Dam is about 55 miles southeast of Idaho Falls, Idaho; American Falls Dam is near American Falls, Idaho; and Minidoka Dam is about 12 miles northeast of Rupert, Idaho.
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