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PRIEST RIVER – The public is invited to the Idaho Water Resource Board Monday, July 13, 10 a.m. at the Priest River Library for an information hearing on Priest Lake Dam operations.
Idaho statute regarding Outlet Dam operations changed in 2016 and the dam ultimately underwent construction both to reinforce the dam’s integrity and also to allow for a six-inch rise in lake level in drought conditions.
According to Idaho Code 70-507, the Idaho Department of Water Resources has been operating Outlet Dam the last several years by utilizing a Best Management Practices Plan with weather forecasting to determine what type of water year the area might have. In a wet year the lake will be stabilized at 3.0 feet on the gage and in dry years it will be stabilized between 3.0 to 3.5 feet. If the lake is held high due to a predicted dry year, lake water is slowly released over the driest months to provide flows to the Priest River, while maintaining statutory lake levels.
The Idaho Water Resource Board is holding this public meeting in Priest River to get feedback from the public and water management agencies on how this operation has been working.
For more information, go to IDWR Lake Management page for water supply updates, links to USGS gages, and contact information at www. idwr.idaho.gov/water-resource- protection-safety/ lake-management.
