- Reclamation
- News & Multimedia
- News Releases
- News Release Archive
- Snake River Flow Increasing to Benefit Native Fish
News Release Archive
Snake River Flow Increasing to Benefit Native Fish
Media Contact:
Venetia Gempler, (208) 378-5020, 06/02/2016 16:59
Mike Beus , mbeus@usbr.gov
For Release: June 02, 2016
HEYBURN, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation is planning to increase flow in the Snake River below Palisades Dam June 2 to reach about 19,000 cubic-feet–per-second by June 8. Reclamation will be monitoring the flow for debris accumulating on irrigation structures. If no major problems are found increases will continue until the maximum flow is reached June 8. Flow will be reduced by 5 percent each day beginning June 9 until a seasonal norm of about 13,000 cfs is reached.
“We want people to use caution when recreating on or near the river as the water will be cold and fast during the high flow period,” said Michael Beus, water operations manager for Reclamation’s Upper Snake Field Office. “The objective is to provide the highest flow of the season at the same time natural flow peaks to maintain a more natural condition in the river.”
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.
# # #
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:
