July 6 2011
In regards to weather in my area, after a long cold winter with with record snowfall in most mountain areas and a cool spring, summer finally set in last week. We had many thunder storms pass over us that wreaked havoc in the midwest. Now all rivers are running at maximum capacity, including those that are dam controlled. Even irrigation ditches are running at max capacity. Homesites along the Snake River are being sandbaged in low laying areas.. all irrigation ditches are flowing at max capacity along the Snake. Water restrictions and usage rules have been abandoned for the season.
There is some concern about Dam strength and leveys in parts of Idaho.
You can see by this chart that some dams may be stressed considering we have only just started our winter snow melt off. This chart only shows a few of the Dams the state has. most are at capacity and dumping water as fast as they can.
http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/burtea.cfm
I live near the Lost River and it is called this because at a certain point in its flow it plunges deep into the earth and on top just appears as a dry river bed... it now is flowing at max capicity and flooding low land farm land that is adjacent in some areas... small areas.
Creeks that have been dry for years are flowing at max. Creeks from the mountians are at max capacity and some have become dangerous to cross in the Saw Tooth Range. Lost River Range creeks are up but none reported dangerous so far.
I drove from central Idaho to Central Oregon though the John Day area and many little towns were all sand bagged in anticipation of flooding... this was last week. I've heard reports of lots of sand bagging going on in Northern Idaho..
In regards to weather in my area, after a long cold winter with with record snowfall in most mountain areas and a cool spring, summer finally set in last week. We had many thunder storms pass over us that wreaked havoc in the midwest. Now all rivers are running at maximum capacity, including those that are dam controlled. Even irrigation ditches are running at max capacity. Homesites along the Snake River are being sandbaged in low laying areas.. all irrigation ditches are flowing at max capacity along the Snake. Water restrictions and usage rules have been abandoned for the season.
There is some concern about Dam strength and leveys in parts of Idaho.
You can see by this chart that some dams may be stressed considering we have only just started our winter snow melt off. This chart only shows a few of the Dams the state has. most are at capacity and dumping water as fast as they can.
http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/burtea.cfm
I live near the Lost River and it is called this because at a certain point in its flow it plunges deep into the earth and on top just appears as a dry river bed... it now is flowing at max capicity and flooding low land farm land that is adjacent in some areas... small areas.
Creeks that have been dry for years are flowing at max. Creeks from the mountians are at max capacity and some have become dangerous to cross in the Saw Tooth Range. Lost River Range creeks are up but none reported dangerous so far.
I drove from central Idaho to Central Oregon though the John Day area and many little towns were all sand bagged in anticipation of flooding... this was last week. I've heard reports of lots of sand bagging going on in Northern Idaho..
