Cascade Dam and Spillway

In July 2010, President Obama declared flooding a major disaster in Adams, Gem, Idaho, Lewis, Payette, Valley, and Washington counties. This will allow federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in those areas.

In June 2010 parts of Idaho, including the Payette River basin, received an unusual amount of rainfall and cool weather, which led to high flows in tributaries causing flooding in some areas.

As a routine part of flood control operations, Cascade Dam was operated to hold back the flows as long as possible during the worst of the flooding. As flooding subsided, a large amount of water had to be released from the spillway, attracting many visitors.

07/2010

Dave Walsh
dwalsh@usbr.gov
(208) 378-5026

Bureau of Reclamation
Pacific Northwest Region
1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100
Boise, Idaho 83706-1234

Last Update: May 8, 2012 3:21 PM