High river flow flooding popular hot spring pool

By Mindy Gould on Friday, March 15th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

VALE (Released by the Vale District BLM)-Bureau of Land Management Vale District is advising users to avoid Snively Hot Spring Recreation Site on the lower Owyhee River, as high, swift, cold water is flooding the pool.

“We are not closing the site, but we do want to advise the public of the conditions,” Malheur Field Manager Jonah Blustain said. “Cold water can quickly cause hypothermia and high flows can sweep a person off their feet.”

Unusually high winter snowpack and runoff have led to early releases of water from the Owyhee Dam, which is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and managed by the Owyhee Irrigation District.

Normally, hot spring water feeds into the Owyhee River and mixes with the colder water to create a comfortable soaking temperature. Several rings of rock slow the water’s flow to create a pool and provide seating.

The current high volume of very cold snowmelt being released is too cold for the spring to overcome. Flow rates are expected to reach 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) today.

For information about Snively Hot Spring Recreation Site, call Vale BLM at 541-473-3144. For information about water releases and flows, visit www.owyheeirrigation.org.