Idaho Power - Rivers and Recreation - Parks and Recreation

The Milner Hydroelectric Project is located on a portion of the Snake River popular for kayaking, whitewater rafting, and boating.

Milner Dam was constructed in the early 1900s as an irrigation structure. Idaho Power and Milner Dam, Inc. rehabilitated the dam and added a hydroelectric power plant in 1992.

Under the terms of its federal license to operate the power plant, Idaho Power is required to provide recreational flows annually for four weekend days (including Memorial Day holiday) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. between May 1 and June 30, when inflow to the project, in excess of irrigation demands, is between 10,000 and 12,500 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Projections are based on Snake River flow information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Flows below Milner Dam and through the Milner power plant are dependant upon the availability of water in excess of irrigation needs.

Flow predictions are based on a number of factors including, but not limited to snow pack, weather conditions, irrigation needs, flood control and anadromous fish flow releases.

To get the latest available flow predictions, please call 1-800-422-3143.

If water is available, call Idaho Power's toll-free recreation line at 1-800-422-3143 (select option 2) , to request a whitewater release date for boating below Milner Dam. You will be asked your first and last name, date, time, number of persons in your group and the duration you are requesting to boat. Here are a few more details:

A whitewater release request must be made before 3 p.m. (MST) on the Friday before the requested weekend day.
A whitewater release request will occur only if there is sufficient water available and if requests for a given weekend day include at least two boaters.
A minimum of two boaters must check in at the Milner Power Plant before a requested release will be provided.
To verify a whitewater release, requesters must call the 800 number above before 3 p.m. MST on the Friday before the requested weekend day.
The request will be counted as one release day if sufficient water was available and no cancellation was made.

The 1.6-mile stretch of river between the dam and the power plant is a Class V-level whitewater rapid, recommended only for experts when flows exceed 10,000 cfs.

kids in truck The 5.5-mile stretch of river downstream from the power plant to Star Falls provides boaters with a potential Class II- or Class III-level whitewater experience. This stretch is recommended for intermediate boaters when flows exceed 5,000 cfs.

Because flows may change hourly, call Idaho Power’s toll-free recreation line at 1-800-422-3143, or visit our Water Information section to get updated information about river conditions downstream from the dam and power plant.

Streamflow conditions on other sections of the Snake River and information about Idaho recreation rivers can be obtained these sites:

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Click the "Recreation" and then "Boating" links.
Idaho Department of Water Resources. Click the "On-Line Data" and then "River Flows for Recreationists" links.

Day-use facilities along the reservoir include boat ramps, docks, picnic tables, fire pits and vault toilets. Anglers may want to try their hand at catching catfish. Idaho Power and Milner Dam Inc., annually stock the reservoir with thousands of 6- to 8-inch channel catfish. For driving directions, click here.

For information about amenities at each park, and our other parks and recreational facilities, visit the Idaho Power Parks and Recreation section or check out the information provided from the Bureau of Land Management's site under the Recreation section.

Click on Map to Enlarge