MURTAUGH -- Farmers aren't the only ones rejoicing in the abundance of moisture the area received this spring.

Thanks to a cool, wet spring, sections of the Snake River will see an increase in water flow -- an increase that will benefit both salmon and recreationists.

Beginning at noon Monday, the Bureau of Reclamation began sending 500 cubic feet per second of water down the Snake River. That figure is expected to rise to as much as 1,500 cubic feet per second by Wednesday, said Tim Miller, a hydrologist with the agency. However, he said, the details of release schedule were still being worked out Monday afternoon.

"We look for every opportunity to fulfill our salmon water augmentation requirements," Miller said.

And, with American Falls Reservoir sitting at 83 percent of capacity, the agency seized its chance to satisfy Idaho's obligation to send water downstream to aid endangered Snake River salmon. It's something that the Bureau hasn't been able to do since 2001, Miller said.

The agency hopes to release approximately 150,000 acre feet of water from American Falls over 50 days, he said. One cubic foot per second of water equals about 1.98 acre feet per day of water.

The Bureau of Reclamation keeps recreational uses in mind when it determines how much water it will send for the salmon, said Ted Day, who works for the agency's regional office in Boise.

"We do know at 1,500 (cubic feet per second), there will be some recreational benefits," Day said.

That's music to the ears of one local outfitter who expects to see kayakers statewide along the Murtaugh stretch of the Snake River this weekend.

"They'll be coming out of the woodwork," said Olin Gardner, who operates the Idaho Guide Service.

Grant Amaral, author of "Idaho the Whitewater State," agrees. The Murtaugh stretch offers several Class IV and some Class V rapids. The experience varies with the flow of water, he said.

"That's a pretty nice flow for kayaks," Amaral said. "When it's high, it's one of the best runs anywhere."

The added river flow will provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities, Gardner said. The section of the Snake River below Canyon Springs isn't as difficult as the Murtaugh stretch, so intermediate and beginning kayakers can use that area. Gardner anticipates that his outfitting service will be able to take customers on the Murtaugh stretch or in the Canyon Springs area of the river as early as this weekend.

Shoshone Falls also could see 600 cubic feet per second of water as a result of the increased water sent down the Snake River, Miller said.

How will the water released for salmon impact the irrigation outlook?

Even if the demand for irrigation water below American Falls remains at its current level or increases slightly, Miller says the reservoir still has enough water to meet demands through the end of the season. Additionally, Miller expects some water to be left in the reservoir for next year.

"We still should have more carry-over water this year than we had the last year or the year before," he said.

Times-News reporter Michelle Dunlop can be reached at 735-3237 or by e-mail at mdunlop@magicvalley.com.

Total Upper Snake River Basin Reservoir Levels 2001-2005 Year Acre feet % of capacity June 20, 2001 2.6 million 63% June 20, 2002 2.6 million 63% June 20, 2003 2.54 million 61% June 20, 2004 2.0 million 48% June 20, 2005 3.44 million 83% Source: Bureau of Reclamation