Water Released Early From Dwarshak to Cool Off Salmon

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Federal officials have started releasing water from Dworshak Reservoir in northern Idaho several weeks earlier than normal to cool areas downstream for federally protected salmon.

The Lewiston Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1RcoOwk) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday increased the amount of water leaving the dam from 2,900 cubic feet per second to 5,200. Officials say the 42-degree water will cool water at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River in southeastern Washington.

Keeping water below 68 degrees is part of a federal plan to mitigate the effects of lower Snake River dams on juvenile salmon and steelhead.