Eastern Oregon hot springs flooded by dam release
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Snively Hot Springs on the lower stem of the Owyhee River are flooded by cold, swift, potentially deadly water flows recently released from the Owyhee Dam in Eastern Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management announced Thursday.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation opted to release the dam water early in anticipation of brimming reservoir levels caused by runoff from an “unusually high” winter snowpack, BLM said. While the hot springs remain open, officials like BLM Field Manager Jonah Blustain are advising people to avoid the popular swimming area until river levels return to normal in Malheur County.
“We are not closing the site, but we do want to advise the public of the conditions,” Blustain said. “Cold water can quickly cause hypothermia and high flows can sweep a person off their feet.”
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The Snively Hot Springs. (BLM) Snively Hot Springs Owyhee reservoir levels. (Data provided by the Bureau of Reclamation.) owyhee
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The high volume of icy cold snowmelt is too cold for the Snively Hot Spring pools to remain warm at this time, the BLM said. Flow rates are expected to reach 1,000 cubic feet per second Thursday.
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