Flows over Shoshone Falls will ramp up Wednesday, opening a brief window for spectators to enjoy one of Idaho’s most popular scenic attractions.

On Tuesday, about 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water was flowing over the falls, which are located near the city of Twin Falls. That volume will increase to about 3,700 cfs by Thursday afternoon. The higher flows are expected to last until the week of May 18 when they will drop again.

The additional flow comes from water released each spring by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from reservoirs on the Upper Snake River to help young salmon and steelhead migrate downstream through the lower Snake and Columbia rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

The additional water is expected to be released at Milner Dam east of Twin Falls on Wednesday and will increase over the next couple of days to the target flow rate.

Idaho Power’s Shoshone Falls Power Plant has a capacity of 14,729 kilowatts — enough to power more than 11,000 homes. The original plant was built in 1907, becoming the first power plant in the Magic Valley.

Idaho Power does not control the timing or the amount of federal water releases. The company provides a minimum scenic flow of 300 cfs over the falls during the summer as long as flows from upstream reach that level.

Brad Bowlin
Communications Specialist
Bbowlin@idahopower.com
208-388-2803