Snake River Flows to be Reduced

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to reduce Snake River flows between Twin Falls and Burley to a trickle beginning next week. The move follows weeks of augmented flows of more than 2,000 cubic feet per second that occur each spring and are intended to help young salmon and steelhead travel downstream to the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean.

The Idaho Power Co. says flows below Milner Dam will be reduced starting Sunday and culminating Tuesday morning. Flows will remain zero cubic feet per second at Milner, a 101-year-old rock fill dam near Burley, until July. Virtually all water upstream of Milner will be diverted for irrigated agriculture. Flows in the mid-Snake River haven't been this low in June since 2004, and the utility predicted they may go even lower.