Characteristics of streamflow and ground-water conditions in the Boise River Valley, Idaho

Water-Resources Investigations Report 74-38
Prepared in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, Walla Walla District
By:  and 

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Abstract

The quantity, quality, and distribution in time of streamflow in Boise River below Lucky Peak Lake are drastically affected by storage reservoirs, diversions for irrigation, and by domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastes. Reservoirs usually fill during the nonirrigation season, and streamflow for several miles below Lucky Peak Lake is very low, sometimes less than 10 cubic feet per second (0.28 cubic meters per second). On November 18-19, 1971, when the gates at Lucky Peak Dam were closed, inflow to the Boise River in the study reach totaled 1010 ft3 /s. Practically all inflow was discharged ground water. During the growing season, several thousands of ft3 /s are released from Lucky Peak Lake, but diversions reduce the flows to near zero below some large diversion points in the study reach. Characteristics of streamflow are described by duration curves, duration hydrographs, and low-flow and high-flow frequency curves.

Water released from Lucky Peak Lake is of excellent quality. Dissolved solids are usually less than 80 milligrams per liter. Discharged ground water increases the dissolved solids in the river downstream to 400 milligrams per liter or more when dilution from Lucky Peak Lake is slight. Other measures of water quality likewise show the deterioration in a downstream direction in the study reach.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Characteristics of streamflow and ground-water conditions in the Boise River Valley, Idaho
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 74-38
DOI 10.3133/wri7438
Year Published 1974
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Idaho Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 56 p.; 3 Plates: 28.18 x 17.41 inches or smaller
Country United States
State Idaho
Other Geospatial Boise River Valley
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