The Boise River is already bulging, and more water is on the way. The Boise River remains is already above flood stage, but the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers say they will increase flows. Many areas along the river's banks are already being impacted.
An apartment complex that is under construction off of Parkcenter Blvd. now has a lakeside view as water spews over the banks of the Boise River.
The construction company says they have been dealing with flooding for close to a week, and it has not impacted their work. They plan to complete construction by next fall.
The Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers say they will increase flows to 7750 c.f.s. by Wednesday, pushing the river even higher.
"We're getting closer to the end of the runoff season, so temperatures are warming up, and we need to make sure we have sufficient space when that snow melts up in the hills," said Brain Sauer, the water operations manager for the Bureau of Reclamation.
Officials say letting water out from dams now will prevent catastrophic flooding later in the year. But the greenbelt in Garden City is also feeling the effects. A pathway between Plantation Island and Expo Idaho is now closed after high flows eroded the river bank.
Officials say it will be closed for public safety until the banks can be stabilized and the pathway repaired.
"I've grown up here since 1948, so it's one of the higher years that I've experienced," said one Greenbelt user.
Officials with the Bureau of Reclamation say, after this increase, they do not plan to add any more to the flows, but Mother Nature may other plans.
"Unless we get some rainy weather or hot weather, but, working with the Corps. of Engineers, we're trying to take it up and maintain safe levels on the river," said Sauer.
Officials want to remind the public to stay out of the water and be careful around river banks.
