The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue to increase flows through the city of Boise this week. Currently, flows through town are 2,600 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs) and will increase by 500 cfs on Tuesday, April 3, and an additional 500 cfs on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. By Wednesday, flows through town will be approximately 3,600 cfs but may fluctuate slightly due to changing irrigation withdrawals or local precipitation. Additional flow increases are possible later this week depending on weather conditions but flows are expected to remain below flood stage.
Precipitation in the Boise basin was well above average, 140 percent, for the month of March and snowpack currently sits at 82 percent of median. Snowpack at the beginning of March was 70 percent of median. The releases will help reduce the risk of flooding later in the spring, which can happen with rapidly melting snow and seasonal precipitation.
Currently, the Boise River reservoirs are at approximately 86 percent of capacity. A full supply of irrigation water is anticipated this summer.
Officials are advising the public to be aware of the danger associated with increased Boise River flows. The water is deep, cold, and fast. Extreme caution should be used near the river banks.
For real-time Boise River flows at Reclamation facilities in the Pacific Northwest Region, visit http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/rtindex/boise.html.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
