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Middle Fork of the Salmon River Update: After the magnitude 6.5 earthquake near Shake Creek on the evening of Tuesday March 31, the Forest has had several reports on conditions on the Middle Fork Salmon River.

• Graphs from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Current Water Data for Idaho for Streamflow website, water levels at the USGS 13309220 MF SALMON RIVER AT MF LODGE NR YELLOW PINE ID station was flowing at approximately 520 cubic feet per second at the time of the earthquake. The flow dropped to approximately 308 cfs by mid-day on April 1, 2020 and then increased to approximately 712 cfs by 6:00 a.m. on April 2, 2020. Currently, the water level has begun to drop again, with the most current value of approximately 634 cfs as of 9:45 am on April 2.

• Recent seismic activity has caused a debris and rock slides along the upper reaches of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River:

o Trees and debris that may be hazardous have likely entered the river system as a result of the recent seismic activity. We have a report of a single tree is laying 90 degrees to the river just upstream from Pistol Rapids near Lake Creek to the river. This tree is almost all the way across the river. Observers indicate the tree should move with high water.

o Below Boundary Creek Boat Launch, we have reports of multiple small avalanches and rock slides which have not blocked the river.

o Above Boundary Creek Boat Launch to the to the headwaters where Marsh Creek and Bear Valley Creek converge to form the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, there are multiple large avalanches and debris slides which have caused blockages of the river. A couple of these slides have damned up the river but the river is either starting to flow around or under the slides.

The Forest is continuing to coordinating with other agencies on the conditions along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and is continuing to investigate.

The river is currently closed to boating from Dagger Falls to the confluence with the main Salmon River.