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August 23, 2012

River Flow May Decline Below Hells Canyon Dam

Snake River Flows May Decline Below Hells Canyon Dam

BOISE, Idaho, August 23, 2012 – Potential reductions to Snake River flows below Hells Canyon Dam could impact anglers, boaters and other river users over the next two weeks, Idaho Power announced Thursday.

Public boat ramps are expected to be available within Brownlee Reservoir through the Labor Day weekend. However, to keep the ramps available, Idaho Power may have to begin passing inflows through the Hells Canyon Complex. As of Thursday, Brownlee’s elevation was 2,057 feet above sea level – 20 feet below full, but high enough to ensure all the public boat ramps are usable, with the exception of Holcomb Park.

Brownlee inflows are expected to decrease over the next two weeks due to a critically dry summer with little to no precipitation throughout the state and the completion of fish augmentation releases from the Upper Snake, Payette, and Boise basins. In addition, flows from the Salmon River have been and continue to steadily decline. Both factors will be watched closely over the next two weeks.

For up-to-date information on Brownlee inflows and water elevation, as well as current information on downstream flows, please visit Idaho Power’s website at:
http://www.idahopower.com/recreation

About Idaho Power Company:

Idaho Power began operations in 1916. Today, the electric utility employs approximately 2,000 people who serve nearly 500,000 customers throughout a 24,000-square-mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects as the core of its generation portfolio, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest rates for electricity. IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA) is the investor-owned utility’s parent company based in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit www.idahopower.com or www.idacorpinc.com.

Contact:
Kevin Winslow
Communications Specialist
Idaho Power
208-388-6736 or kwinslow@idahopower.com
1-800-458-1443 media line