PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (ID) Flooding

Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2017 13:46:08 EDT

Summary: Warm temperatures and rain bring flooding to Idaho.

Idaho is experiencing flooding as a result of a recent warming trend and multiple storms bringing rain to high elevation snowpacks. As a result currently 4 gages are currently above or predicted to breach the action stage. To the North, Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry, ID, and St. Joe River at Calder. To the East, Snake River @ Blackfoot, ID, and Salt River above Palisade Reservoir. 7 gages are currently above or predicted to go above flood stage this week. In the Northern Panhandle, Coeur D’Alene Lake, and Coeur D’Alene at Cataldo, and in the sSouthwest, Payette River, Weiser River, and Boise River. The Malheur River is currently at action stage and is predicted to close in on flood stage later this week. Portneuf River near Pocatello, ID, in the East, is currently above flood stage and expected to peak above moderate flood stage later this week. Also in the East, the Salt River and Snake River near Blackfoot are expected to breach the action stage later this week.

The Idaho Water Science Center has deployed all crews from the Post Falls field office and Boise office this weekend and this week for flood measurements, sediment sampling and rating verification. Crews are being deployed this week in Idaho Falls to cover flooding and high flows in that area. Rapid Deployments Gages (RDGs) have been deployed and continue to operate on Sheep Creek, and the Boise River in Southwestern Idaho, and one was installed on Big Canyon Creek in North Central Idaho to monitor flows through a recently burned area. Multiple gages have been visited and orifice lines repaired that were damaged during high velocity, flow, or periods of debris. All gaging stations seem to be working properly and transmitting. IDWSC is also in communication with the National Weather Service, USBR, and Idaho Department of Transportation to insure critical un-gaged river and stream reaches are monitored for public safety.