HEYBURN, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows downstream of Milner Dam to provide additional water for juvenile salmon migration to the Pacific Ocean in the lower Snake River basin below Hells Canyon Dam.
The public should use caution when near the river and be aware of sudden changes in river flows between May 17 and June 2. People recreating below Milner Dam and viewing Shoshone Falls can expect river levels to decrease incrementally, and potentially cease, between May 24 and June 2.
Currently, Snake River flows are 3,000 cubic feet per second and will increase to 4,000 cfs on Monday, May 17, then to 5,000 cfs on Tuesday, May 18. Flows are expected to stay at 5,000 cfs until Monday, May 24. They will then begin to decrease, stabilizing below 3,000 cfs a few days later.
Current flows of around 3,000 cfs from Milner Dam were initially projected to continue into early June, but agencies downstream requested these higher releases earlier on to improve conditions for listed salmon species.
Current river and reservoir data are available at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/uppersnake/.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
