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Start of Boise River float season likely to be delayed

Posted at 6:38 PM, Mar 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-26 20:52:53-04

If floating the Boise River is your favorite go-to summer activity, you might want to start making other plans during the first few weeks when temperatures really start to heat up. That's because the water levels are flowing at such high rates, the start date for this year's float season may very well be pushed back.

Six On Your Side looked into how that decision is made.

Over the past 15 years, the average opening date for the Boise River float season at Barber Park is June 22.

Considering the overabundance of water this year, the start of the season could easily be as late as mid-July until the facility is officially up and running.

"Typically, what happens is we evaluate outside air temperature, river flow and debris removal in the river between Barber Park and Ann Morrison Park and then we make a decision based on those three factors primarily," says Scott Koberg, director of Ada County Parks & Waterways.

Of course, safety is the number one priority even though anytime of the year you're technically floating the river at your own risk.

However, with water flows already reaching record-breaking levels this Spring, Koberg warns that the fast moving water is dangerous and that their recommendations should be taken seriously.

"We're a long ways off from determining any kind of opening date or status for the Boise River float season," he says. "We definitely recommend people do not recreate on or near the river at this time."

Up-to-date information on the opening date can be found by checking the Float the Boise River Facebook page.