Why Barber Park won’t be open this weekend

BOISE -- Despite the warm days ahead you are being asked not to cool off by floating the Boise River.

The high river flow right now makes floating the river extremely dangerous.

Ada County Recreation officials say floating operations at Barber Park will remain closed until river flows return to safe floating levels.

At that time, the Boise Fire dive team will clear the river of fallen trees and brush - making it safer to float.

You can visit the Barber Park Web site for more information.

Flows will ramp up this week - by more than 1,000 cubic feet per second a day both Wednesday and Thursday. That will bring the flow at the measuring point at the Glenwood Bridge to 4,000 cfs - from just 800 cfs on Monday.

Any flow above 1,500 cfs is considered too high for recreation, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Flood rate is considered 7,000 cfs.

The USGS also warns that the increased flow rate could affect canals - with the higher water levels saturateing the canal banks, which could cave in if people are too close to the edge.