BOISE, Idaho -- Three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-fight specialists from the Walla Walla District are providing technical assistance to Idaho’s Ada County emergency managers as Boise River seasonal flows near flood stage.
Michael Schaffer, a geotechnical engineer from the District Headquarters in Walla Walla, Washington, joined Brandon Hobbs (Idaho Falls native) and Russ Lodge (Boise native), both hydraulic engineers at the District’s Boise Field Office, to help monitor conditions along the river in the greater-Boise area and provide engineering expertise for local emergency managers to use for flood-response planning efforts.
As of today, May 2, Boise River flows through town are approximately 6,800 cubic feet per second, as measured at the Glenwood Bridge gauge. Additional adjustments in water releases from Lucky Peak Dam and Lake are likely during the coming days, depending on weather conditions and resulting inflows. Flows also could fluctuate depending on water diversions for irrigation use, as determined by Idaho Water District 63. Any increase in irrigation demand will prompt an increase in water releases from Lucky Peak to maintain the target rate of flow at the Glenwood Bridge gauge.
A flow rate of 6,500 cfs, or about 9.6 feet in depth, at the Glenwood Bridge gauge is considered bankfull. A flow rate of 7,000 cfs, or about 10 feet in water depth, at the Glenwood Bridge gauge, is considered flood-stage level on the Boise River. Large sections of the Greenbelt path adjacent to the river will likely become submerged, and minor flooding may affect portions of Eagle Island. The Greenbelt serves as a flowage easement area, intentionally designed to provide space for higher flows occurring in the Boise River.
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 https://www.weather.gov/boi/. The site offers flow data, weather forecasts, and flood alerts. Follow flood-response instructions issued by your local emergency management agency https://adacounty.id.gov/emergencymanagement/, 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.
Other rivers in the Snake River Basin are already at, or forecasted to soon reach, bankfull or flood-stage conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service River Forecast Center which can be found online at https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc/.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District activated its Emergency Operations Center at Level-3, on April 22, to more closely monitor seasonal flooding conditions throughout the Basin.
Corps officials communicate with local officials to obtain on-site observations from communities located along rivers throughout the Walla Walla District area of operations. This area covers the Snake River Basin, plus a portion of the middle Columbia River and tributaries.
Walla Walla District disaster-response experts are prepared to assist states and municipalities with flood-management support. That assistance might include technical expertise, supplies and materials, equipment or contracts for emergency flood-fighting work.
The Corps coordinates closely with other federal and non-federal water managers to make adjustments in reservoir system operations that will best accommodate the increased seasonal flows.
Disasters and emergency situations -- like flooding -- can occur anywhere, often with little or no prior warning. Corps officials encourage everyone to keep local emergency management contact information handy, keep an eye on evolving weather and streamflow conditions, and be familiar with emergency action plans for your specific location. Be prepared and stay informed so you’ll be ready to react if an emergency occurs near you.
BE PREPARED ~ Become familiar with local emergency management plans for you area. For example, if your home becomes flooded, to which emergency shelter should you take your family? What route should you take to safely get there? Will the shelter allow pets? What should you have ready to bring with you? Links to emergency management office contact information is provided, by state, below:
WASHINGTON ~ Contact information for county emergency management offices in Washington State can be found on the state’s Emergency Management Division website https://www.mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/.
IDAHO ~ County emergency coordinators in Idaho State are listed on the Idaho Office of Emergency Management website https://ioem.idaho.gov/about/contact/county-tribal-emergency-managers-contacts/.
OREGON ~ The Oregon State Office of Emergency Management provides a list of county emergency managers on its website https://www.oregon.gov/oem/Documents/locals_list.pdf.
WYOMING ~ Wyoming’s Office of Homeland Security provides contact information for county emergency coordinators at http://wyohomelandsecurity.state.wy.us/counties.aspx.
NEVADA ~ Nevada’s Department of Public Safety website offers a list of county and major city emergency management offices http://dem.nv.gov/Resources/Agency_Contact_Lists/.
UTAH ~ The Utah Emergency Management Division website provides an interactive map linking to county office webpages at https://dem.utah.gov/.
STAY INFORMED ~ Weather forecast information and extreme weather warnings can be found on the National Weather Service (NWS) website https://www.weather.gov/. NWS Forecast Stations serving areas within the Corps’ Walla Walla District area of operations include:
• NWS Spokane - serves northeastern and far-eastern Washington (includes Garfield and Asotin counties) and northern Idaho
• NWS Pendleton - serves south-central Washington (as far east as Columbia County) and northeastern Oregon
• NWS Riverton - serves western and central Wyoming
• NWS Boise - serves southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon
• NWS Pocatello - serves southeastern Idaho
• NWS Missoula - serves central Idaho and northwestern Montana
• NWS Elko - serves most of northern Nevada
• NWS Salt Lake City - serves Utah
The Corps works with states, counties and other public entities to provide necessary resources and information. The Corps does not have authority to provide disaster assistance directly to individuals.
The first responsibility for protecting life, homes and property from flood damage rests with the individual. Local governments and agencies, such as flood control districts, may share in this responsibility, and together form a community's first line of defense in preventing flood damages.
Occasionally, however, local resources are not able to minimize the effects of flooding. The Corps’ flood assistance program is intended to supplement state and local governments and special-purpose districts when more help is needed.
State and local agencies needing disaster assistance from the Corps should contact the Walla Walla District Emergency Management Office at 509-527-7146.
Individuals and business owners are encouraged to contact local emergency management agencies to ensure they understand how to prepare, respond and recover from a flood.
For more information about the Corps’ Emergency Management Assistance programs, check out the District’s website at https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Flood-Assistance/.
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