BOISE, Idaho — Scientists say climate change is making it tougher for Idaho reservoir managers to control floods and manage water for farming, recreation and fish.
The Idaho Statesman reports the challenge was underscored this week, when two days of record high temperatures, accompanied by record rainfall, pushed a surge of water into the Boise River.
That forced Bureau of Reclamation dam managers to boost water they were sending out of Lucky Peak Dam upstream from Boise to levels not seen since 1998.
Dam managers say if the reservoir behind the dam had been full, there could have been problems managing all the water.
Ron Abramovich of the Natural Resources Conservation Service says this phenomenon of warm springs, heavier rains and more unpredictability is all something to expect more of as the climate changes.
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