New Priest Lake gage receives funding
A view of Priest River below Priest Lake's Outlet Bay Dam.
(Photo courtesy IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES)
BOISE — The Idaho Water Resource Board voted to approve $17,000 for the installation and operation of a new stream flow gage on the Priest River directly below the Priest Lake outlet dam on Wednesday as part of its regular bi-monthly meeting in Boise.
A $7,500 Federal Emergency Management A grant will help with initial equipment costs and the cost of operating the gage in the future will be shared with the U.S. Geological Survey. The new gage will be installed in November, said Cynthia Bridge Clark, Water Projects Section Manager for IDWR, so stream flow data will be available during the next water season.
The gage will measure the amount of water discharged from Priest Lake into Priest River. It will help water managers balance statutory requirements to maintain specific lake levels during the summer while providing enough flow in Priest River to maintain fish and aquatic life. Previously, the closest stream flow gage on the Priest River was located about 45 miles downstream from the dam.