Boise River flooding
Spring runoff is the window: Ada County says releases from the upstream reservoirs are generally increased from April 1 to July 1. At Glenwood Bridge, 7,000 cubic feet per second is flood stage.1 River water is flood, which most Idaho homeowners policies do not cover.2
Free service. Call now and we'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works
The data
How high the river has to run
Flow at Glenwood Bridge, in cubic feet per second, from Ada County's flooding FAQ.1
- Bank-full6,500 cfs
- Flood stage7,000 cfsExceeded more than ten times since Lucky Peak Dam was finished in 1955.1
- Record, June 13, 19839,840 cfs
Runoff season
Ada County says reservoir releases upstream of Boise must be increased to make room for expected spring runoff, generally from April 1 to July 1.1
Maps are estimates
Ada County notes floodplain maps are only estimates, and that nationally over a quarter of flood insurance claims come from areas designated low-risk.1
Your property is your response
Ada County's FAQ says local agencies protect public roads, buildings and utilities and will not conduct flood response on private property; citizens are responsible for flood response on their own property.1 Decide before spring who you would call.
Insurance
| Water source | Usually |
|---|---|
| River or runoff rising from outside | Not covered without separate flood coverage2 |
| A burst pipe inside | Typically covered3 |
| Sewer or drain backup | Only with a backup rider3 |
A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, with exceptions such as buying with a mortgage.4 For runoff season, that means buying in winter.
If river water got in
How this works
What happens when you call
It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.
![A man on the phone by a snowy window, towels lined up along a wet wall behind him.]()
1You call
Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.
- 2
We connect you
A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Boise and is taking calls.
![A technician wearing a headlamp lies in a crawl space, checking a dripping pipe with torn insulation.]()
3They assess and quote
If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.
We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works
Want a local company to look at it?
Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Boise answers, and you decide what happens next.
Call (208) 994-8334Boise Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works
Sources
Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.
- Ada County Emergency Management & Community Resilience, 2019 Frequently Asked Questions About Boise River Flooding. 2019 (figures are from that year). adacounty.id.gov/emergencymanagement/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/Boise-River-FAQ-2019-1.pd…
- Idaho Department of Insurance, Post-Disaster Claims Guide. PDF last modified July 26, 2022. doi.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/publication-post-disaster-claims-guide.pdf
- Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How to protect your home from water damage. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage
- FEMA FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program), Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. No date shown. www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy
- CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. Page updated August 24, 2026. www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html