Idaho Fish and Game biologists are looking closely at the shallow areas of the Boise River right below Barber Dam. They're trying to determine how many trout hatchlings may have died when the river's flow dropped dramatically earlier this week.
Biologist Joe Kozfkay says flows immediately below the dam were at 0 cubic feet per second (cfs) for up to seven hours after the privately-owned dam's alert system failed. Enel Green Power owns the hydroelectric plant.
Kozfkay says the department is most concerned about the habitat impacts between Barber Dam and Broadway Avenue bridge, where the river was at its lowest.
The nearest gauge is located at the Glenwood Bridge, which is more than 10 miles downstream from Barber Dam. Flow at the Glenwood monitor dropped to 81 cfs early Wednesday morning.
Find Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
Copyright 2015 Boise State Public Radio