News Release Archive

Boise River flows increasing 500 cfs

Media Contact: Gina Baltrusch , (509) 527-7018 , gina.c.baltrusch@usace.army.mil
Michael Coffey , mcoffey@usbr.gov

For Release: June 22, 2017

BOISE, Idaho – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows from Lucky Peak Dam by 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 8 am. The Boise River reservoir system continues to be in active flood control operations in this unusually high water year. Flood-risk-management operations are expected to continue for the next couple of weeks.

Flows through the city of Boise as measured at the Glenwood Bridge gauge will increase to approximately 4,900 cfs by about noon on Thursday.

The increase in discharge from Lucky Peak Reservoir is a result of above-normal temperatures this week that have rapidly increased snowmelt-driven runoff into the Boise River reservoir system. 2017 has been a record snow/flooding year. Since January 1, the Boise River system of dams has passed more than 2.7-million acre feet of water. And, there is about 300,000 acre feet still waiting to melt into the system. The majority of remaining system space (approximately 50,000 acre feet) has purposely been held in Lucky Peak Reservoir this flood control season to minimize flood risk and maximize flexibility in regulating flows through the city of Boise.

Lucky Peak Reservoir is currently approximately 7 feet from full at a water surface elevation of approximately 3,047 feet. It is anticipated the water surface elevation at Lucky Peak Reservoir will hold steady or continue to fill. As the flood risk diminishes over the next couple of weeks, Lucky Peak Reservoir will be filled to the normal summer operating level of 3,055 feet to accommodate recreational opportunities.

As flood control operations continue, additional flow changes (up or down) may occur over the next few weeks; however, it is anticipated flows through town will remain below flood stage. A flow rate of approximately 7,000 cfs is considered flood-stage level at the Glenwood Bridge gauge on the Boise River. Boise River reservoirs are at approximately 95 percent of capacity.

Residents of flood-prone areas in and near the greater Boise area are encouraged to keep informed of changing river, stream, and weather conditions on the National Weather Service, Boise Office website at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/boi/. The site offers flow data, weather forecasts, and flood alerts. Follow flood-response instructions issued by your local emergency management agency http://www.adacounty.id.gov/flood, and tune-in to local radio and television news stations. Ada County residents can sign up for CodeRED emergency alerts at https://public.coderedweb.com/cne/en-US/BF01DC4DD213, or download the CodeRED mobile app from your mobile device’s app store.

For real-time Boise River flows at Reclamation facilities in the Pacific Northwest Region, visit http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/rtindex/boise.html.

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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.