The following videos were prepared by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Both videos were shot just downstream of the diversion dam in the portion of the Snake River that will be effected by the County Line Hydroelectric Projects.
The videos were shot during the mild winter of 2014/2015.
Note the number of waterfowl that use this portion of the river. More birds than shown on the videos use the open water downstream of the dam during severe winters when the river is frozen over elsewhere.
Idaho Irrigation District and New Sweden Irrigation District propose to lower river flow to 1,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) throughout the winter. Please note the flow rate shown on the videos. We are concerned that such a drastic cut of river flow will adversely impact this critical winter waterfowl habitat.
IDFG video looking upstream to dam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrOZcKKMyM&feature=youtu.be
IDFG video looking from east river bank to the west
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuyZIOCDuV4&feature=youtu.be