Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Custer County has four incorporated communities,  Challis  (pop. 909), Clayton (27),  Mackay (566) and Stanley (100). The total population for the county in 2000 was 4,342. That is an increase of 5.1% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 4,938 square miles.

Historical Background

Established January 8, 1881 with its county seat at Challis. Named for the General Custer mine, which was named in honor of General George Custer who died at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Its history begins with fur traders and pathfinders as early as 1824; later in the 1860s and 1870s prospectors and miners came. It contains portions of the Sawtooth, Salmon River, White Cloud, Pioneer, Lost River, and White Knob Mountains and contains the highest peaks in the state.

County Seat: Challis

Wildland Fire - 8-9/2000

Event Summary:    $1,000,000,000.00 - Over 1,541 fires burned in Idaho in 2000, scorching over 7 million acres.  A federal disaster declaration was declared on September 1, 2000.  Several times DEQ issued air quality advisories due to intense smoke; air cleaners and fans were sent to Salmon on August 21, 2000.  Over 3 million acres of public and state lands were closed, including more than 2,000 miles of trails, 80 miles of river, and nearly all public airstrips.  The  Salmon River was closed for 26 days, affecting 4,000 outfitter floaters, 2300 private floaters, and 140 commercial jet boaters, resulting in lost income and employment for local communities.  13 fires caused evacuations of 14-16 locations,  109 structures were destroyed.  Critical wildife habitat was destroyed.

County Summary: 

Idaho Statesman  22 Sept 00

Flood - March-July, 1997

Event Summary:    $50,000,000.00 - Rapid melt of a record snowmelt led to flooded rivers throughout southern  Idaho.  The Snake River Basin received significant snowfall during the winter of 1996-97, and in higher elevations the snow pack exceeded 250% of normal, causing above normal runoff during the spring melt.  Reservoir flows were increased to allow storage capacity, producing the highest flows on the Snake River in 70 years.  During June, the spring snowmelt caused extensive flooding along 225 miles of the Snake River and many of its tributaries, from Roberts to Blackfoot.  In places, floodwaters ran as far as a mile away from the river and 5' deep.  Damage was extensive to numerous roads, canals, farmland and over 300 homes.  A Federal Disaster was declared on July 7, 1997 , for seven counties in SE Idaho:  Bingham, Bonneville, Fremont, Jefferson,  Madison, Butte and Custer.  Approximately 500 people were evacuated in Jefferson and Bingham counties; more than 50,000 acres of agricultural land was flooded; and over nearly $1.3 million in grants and loans had been distributed.  Increased flows on the Boise River damaged sections of the Greenbelt.

County Summary: $231,720.00

Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team Report

Drought -  7/21/1994

Event Summary:  Drought Emergency declared banning the use of water for new projects or expanded use.

County Summary: Drought Emergency declared banning the use of water for new projects or expanded use.

Idaho Statesman  22 July 1994

Flood -  6/3/1986

Event Summary:  High waters from snow melt and flash floods from thunderstorms washed out roads.

County Summary: The Big Lost River washed out a bridge abutment and portions of US 93 about 7 miles south of Mackay.  20-30 feet of road was washed out.  Replacement of the bridge cost $150,000.  Motorists were detoured through Salmon and Stanley.  Other closed roads were Donkey Creek Road, Hatch Lane, and Elk Bend Road.

Idaho Statesman  4 June 1986

Frost - Fall 1985

Event Summary:  Potato Crops were damaged do to early fall frosts.

County Summary: Potato Crops were damaged do to early fall frosts.

Pestilence - 1985

Event Summary:  Grasshopper infestation led to pesticide spraying on over 6 million acres of range; Ada, Elmore, Owyhee and Minidoka counties declared a disaster by USDA, state disaster declaration  6/18/85.

County Summary: Grasshopper infestation

The Idaho Statesman  3/1/86

Landslide - 8/1984

Event Summary:  Mudslide hit Highway 75

County Summary: Near Bayhorse Bridge on State Highway 75, a four foot high wall of water, mud, and rocks washed down out of the mountains across the highway on its way to the Salmon River.  A smaller mudwash occurred a mile south of Bayhorse, just below Malm Gulch.  Highway 75 was closed of over 8 hours, stranding an estimated 100+ motorists.

Molly O'Leary-Howard 30 Aug 84

Earthquake - Borah Peak Earthquake -  10/28/1983

Event Summary:    $12,500,000.00 - 7.3 earthquake was centered between Challis and Mackay at the old town site known as Chilly.  8 states and 3 Canadian provinces felt the quake. Damage occurred up to 75 miles from the quake.  Sewer lines were broken, wells were contaminated, roads were cracked, several large buildings had to be demolished, and nearly 700,000 hatchery fish were killed.

County Summary: Damage to more than 200 buildings.  2 children died when a storefront crumbled on them.

The Idaho Statesman  1 Oct 89;  6 Nov 83, The Recorder-Herald  3 Nov 83

Flood - 1/15/1974

Event Summary:    $116,000,000.00 - Flood waters isolated much of the Coeur d'Alene mining district.  The waters burst dams, blocked major roadways and forced evacuation of at least 1,000 persons.  About $65 million in damages. Shoshone and Benewah hardest hit. $9.5 million in damage to road systems.  $51.4 million in damage to private property. Governor Andrus declared the counties disaster areas.  More than 30 bridges were destroyed in 3 counties.

County Summary: 2 bridges and 8 basements were damaged near Challis.

Idaho Statesman  17 Jan 74

Flood -  6/30/1967

Event Summary:  Warm weather caused snowmelt in the Copper Basin area leading to flooding.

County Summary: One family was evacuated from the Big Lost River area.  5,000 acres of land were under water below the Mackay Reservoir,  1,000 of it farmland, 1,000 acres of grazing land.

Lewiston Morning Tribune  1 July 67

Earthquake -  9/10/1963

Event Summary:  4.1 magnitude.  Caused minor damage at Redfish Lake  Thunderous earth noises were heard.

County Summary: Caused minor damage at Redfish Lake  Thunderous earth noises were heard.

Earthquake - 1/27/1963

Event Summary:  2 intensity VI shocks reported centered near Clayton

County Summary: felt over 6,000 square miles and centered in Clayton, where plaster and windows were cracked.  Large boulders rolled down the hill near Camp Livingston and aftershocks were felt for a week.

USGS

Earthquake -  2/13/1945

Event Summary:  6.0  Felt over a 60,000 square mile area

County Summary: Centered in Clayton

USGS

Earthquake -  7/12/1944

Event Summary:  Quake of 6.1 magnitude felt in Lewiston. Felt over 70,000 square miles.

County Summary: People reported difficulty walking because shaking was so hard.  Rocks rose at least a foot in the air; looked like explosions.  Part of the canyon wall collapsed near Lime Creek.  Cracks opened 100 yards long in  Duffield Canyon and cracks 1-3 inches across and several hundred yards long opened on the road below Seafoam.

Salmon Herald, USGS

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues