Donated Water Will Keep Payette River Levels High

Water levels in the Payette River downstream from Black Canyon Dam will remain higher this fall thanks to the efforts of western Idaho irrigators and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The federal agency, two irrigation districts and three irrigation companies have donated about 6,000 acre feet of water stored in Cascade and Deadwood reservoirs for release into the Payette River, the Idaho Department of Water Resources said.

The extra water - enough to supply an additional 100 cubic feet per second of flow for a month - will be used to help keep river flows below Black Canyon Dam at a minimum of 500 cfs, Water Resources said.