Whitewater rafting expects to have good summer season

Good news for whitewater enthusiasts. Idaho snowpack levels are above normal, and local experts say people should have a lot to do on rivers this summer.

While Idaho is famous for its potatoes, it is also famous for its whitewater rapids.
Nationally hailed as the whitewater state, Idaho has more than 3,000 miles of rapids.
Local water district manager, Tony Olenichak, said this summer people are in for a fun ride.

“Fishermen like full reservoirs, water skiers like full reservoirs, and with the abundance of snow, we should have lots of flows coming down the river, so it is good for the rafters also,” said Olenichak.

Olenichak said every snow survey site in eastern Idaho is above average. President of the Salmon River Lodge Resort, Brooks Murphy, said it will be good for his business.

“With states like Nevada and California being down in the 50-percent snowpack range, we are really expecting a lot of outside state sales for our guided tours on the river. With the river being high, we are going to be doing a lot of jet-boat tours and a lot of rafting. The fishing should be good in all of the major creeks,” said Murphy.

Murphy also said reservations have skyrocketed at the resort, and he expects it to continue through summer. Water experts said a wet month in February is what contributed to high snowpack levels. Their worries have now shifted from water shortages to potential flooding.