Assessment of Water Quality and Aquatic Biology in the Lower Boise River and Selected Tributaries
Conducted in cooperation with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Status: Active
Principal Investigator: Alexandra Etheridge
Problem
The measured parameters indicate that water quality in the lower Boise River degrades as it flows from Lucky Peak Dam to its confluence with the Snake River. The reduced total numbers and variety of fish and other aquatic life downstream of the dam is further evidence that water quality in the river and some of its tributaries is impaired.
Boise River: upstream view at Diversion Dam.
Photo by USGS.
Objectives
The USGS, in cooperation with its partners, collects and analyzes water-quality and aquatic biology data to:
- Understand the current status and historical trends of water quality and aquatic biological communities in the lower Boise River and selected tributaries
- Evaluate relations between tributary water quality and water quality in the lower Boise River
