Note: This news release replaces an earlier version, with the operation delayed by 24 hours due to high temperatures.

BLISS, Idaho – Flows in the section of the Snake River below Lower Salmon Falls Dam near Bliss will bump up Wednesday and then drop substantially on Thursday as the Idaho Transportation Department performs a routine structural inspection of Shoestring Bridge.

The operation will also require brief closures at river access points in the area, including the Lower Salmon boat launch and raft slide and the Relish Beach whitewater takeout. Signs will be posted and Idaho Power recreation staff will be on hand to alert boaters.

Idaho Power will increase flows at its Lower Salmon project from about 5,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to around 8,200 cfs beginning at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28. Flows will begin to drop by about 8 p.m. that evening. Flows below the Bliss Dam downstream will increase from 7,200 cfs to 9,800 cfs starting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and begin dropping around 10 p.m.

The change of water levels was originally planned to begin Tuesday, but hot weather in the forecast led to a one-day delay.

After that, Idaho Power will reduce flows to enable divers to inspect the bridge southwest of Bliss both above and below the waterline.

Starting around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, flows from Salmon Falls Dam will drop to approximately 1,800 cfs. The water volume between the dam and the bridge increases as other sources enter the river, so flows at Shoestring Bridge will be around 3,200 cfs during the drawdown.

Flows below Bliss Dam will be lowered from 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and will drop to as low as 4,800 cfs. After the bridge inspection is complete, flows will return to normal, starting around 10:30 a.m. at Lower Salmon and 3:30 p.m. at Bliss.

About Idaho Power
Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile area in Idaho and Oregon. The company’s goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Power’s residential, business and agricultural customers pay among the nation’s lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,000 employees proudly serve more than 600,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always and respect for all.

IDACORP Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Idaho Power’s independent publicly traded parent company, is also headquartered in Boise, Idaho. To learn more, visit idahopower.com or idacorpinc.com.

Contact:
Brad Bowlin
Communications Specialist
Idaho Power
bbowlin@idahopower.com
208-388-2803