Boise River Cross Sections

Conducted in cooperation with Federal Emergency Management Agency

Status: Completed

Boise River, USGS Idaho Water Science Center employees obtaining channel cross-sections.
Since the last flood insurance study (FIS) conducted in 1978, the channel geometry and flood-plain features of the Boise River have changed due to land development and the natural movement of the river. As a result of these physical changes, the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM's) are outdated and need to be updated. Areas that would be inundated by floods along the Boise River are of interest to adjacent cities, the county, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These parties need information on areas prone to flooding in order to preclude the uneconomic, hazardous, or unnecessary use of the floodplain, with regard to the location of homes, buildings, structures, roads, and other facilities. The purpose of this study was to update the floodplain and floodway boundaries of the Boise River from Barber Dam to the Ada/Canyon County line.