Lucky Peak drawdown to start on Monday

Idaho’s “Lucky Peak” In order to meet the irrigation demands of downstream communities in the Treasure Valley and beyond, as well as to create space for next year’s runoff, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Walla Walla District will start drawing down Lucky Peak Reservoir Monday.

Water levels will decrease by one and a half feet per day for approximately ten days beginning on August 18 and then by two and a half feet per day over the following three to four weeks.

Boats must be removed from the water before August 23, when docks are expected to be impacted.

“We do call and remind people that it’s almost time to pull out your boat,” said Bri Sabin, Lucky Peak State Park’s assistant park manager. “Every year, we usually have at least one person who waits a little too long, so hopefully we don’t have that this year.”

The US Army Corps of Engineers said in a press statement that water management officials want to “reach a winter pool elevation of approximately 2,945 feet.” The Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock, and Lucky Peak reservoirs are part of the Boise River System, which is now operating at 65% of its full capacity. That figure is exactly consistent with carry-over capacity in the past.

Boating enthusiast Marcus Maltby responded, “They close it down; it goes a little too fast,” when asked his thoughts on the drawdown. September has some of the nicest weather.

Maltby remarked, “We don’t care about those people right now,” in response to a question regarding his thoughts on those who require irrigation downstream. It’s about boating, isn’t it, to be honest? No, I get that.

Christopher Silbernagel, Operations Project Manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers, said, “That elevation of 2,945 gives us a safe capacity for next year’s runoff.”

Schedules for drawdown can be changed to account for future precipitation and irrigation needs.