Flows Increase on Boise River through Boise

BOISE -- The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be increasing water releases from Lucky Peak Dam Friday to help manage water flows during the spring runoff period.

     The current Lucky Peak flood control releases are approximately 7,300 cubic feet per second (cfs), resulting in flows through Boise of about 6,100 cfs. This increased runoff is a result of above normal snow pack and wet spring weather conditions. 

     Controlled flow releases from Lucky Peak Dam will increase to 7,600 cfs starting Friday resulting in flows through the City of Boise reaching approximately 6,400 cfs tomorrow.  Historically, bankfull has been 6,500 cfs.

At this flow rate area residents can expect to see large sections of the Greenbelt path adjacent to the river submerged and have minor flooding affecting portions of Eagle Island. These higher flows are expected to be maintained through April and May.

     A flow rate of 7,000 cfs is considered flood-stage level at the Glenwood Bridge gauge. 

     Releases from Lucky Peak will help prevent the reservoir system from filling too rapidly, thus decreasing the risk of higher flows later in the runoff season.     

     The Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers discourage river recreational use at this time because of cold water temperatures, higher flow velocities and brush on the river banks. These flows may also cause minor stream bank erosion and displace early nesting waterfowl and other wildlife that reside along the stream corridor.

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