Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Elmore County has two incorporated communities and a United States Air Force base:  Glenns Ferry (pop. 1,611) and Mountain Home (11,143) and Mountain Home Air Force Base (8,894). The total population for the county in 2000 was 29,130. That is an increase of 37% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 3,103 square miles.

Historical Background

Established February 7, 1889 with its county seat at Rocky Bar. Named for the Ida Elmore mines, the area's greatest silver and gold producer of the 1860s. The Oregon Trail crossed the Snake River at Three Island Crossing near Glenns Ferry. A station on the overland stage route, originally named Rattlesnake, was moved to the railroad line and became Mountain Home. On February 4, 1891 the county seat was moved to Mountain Home.

County Seat: Mountain Home

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: The Trail Creek Fire near Atlanta caused evacuation of the town.  The fire damaged Atlanta's water system; potable water was trucked in by the National Guard.

The Idaho Statesman  8/19/00; Interagency Wildland Rehabilitation and Hazard Mitigation Team Report

Flood - May-June 1998

Event Summary: Two weeks of rain fell on a melting melting snow pack, causing flooding along the Snake, Weiser, Payette and Boise River drainages for the second year in a row.  A levee break near Eagle Island caused flooding of nearby homes.

County Summary: A sinkhole closed Idaho 78 between Grand View and Bruneau.  Streets in Glenns Ferry were flooded.

The Idaho Statesman, May 15, 17, 28, June 2, 4, 1998

Wildland Fire - Foothills Fire -  August 19, 1992

Event Summary:  The Foothills Fire near Prairie burned 257,000 acres.  Numerous other fires in one of Idaho's worst fire seasons resulted in two state-wide disaster declarations.

County Summary: Ignited by lightning, the Foothills Fire burned 257,000 acres between Boise and Mountain Home.  The fire destroyed habitat and eliminated a population of Intermountain Sulphur Butterflies.  Suppression costs for the fire reached $16 million; lost hunting revenues est. at $1.9 million.  Rehabilitation efforts cost $19 million: 100,000 acres reseeded by air with 700,000 pounds of seed, 1,000 acres by tractor.

The Idaho Statesman, 7/493, 8/7/93; High Country News 3/6/95

Drought - 1987-1992

Event Summary:   7 year drought, from 1987-1992.    This period saw the worst water shortage since the 1977 drought.   In 1987,  Idaho requested $5.8 million in Emergency Conservation Funds to aid drought-stricken farmers.   In 1988, in Oneida County the Deep Creek Reservoir was shut off half-way through irrigation season because the water level was so low it was filling the sprinkler system with mud and silt.   Throughout the drought, reservoirs were consistently below capacity, resulting in irrigation water ending earlier than normal, crops being plowed under or not planted at all, and recreational activities being curtailed.   The drought caused high water temperatures in rivers, and the lack of perennial grass growth caused livestock to be removed from public lands early, while wildlife starved in many wintering areas.  Conservation measures were instituted for residential and commercial use.  Wells used for residential and agricultural sectors ran dry, and a moratorium on new wells was instituted.   In 1992 alone, $500 million was lost in agricultural production.

County Summary: 7 year drought (1987-1992) saw the worst water shortage in the state since the 1977 drought.

The Idaho Statesman; Idaho State Journal; Idaho Press Tribune; Times-News; Spokesman

Flood -  May 26, 1991

Event Summary:  Kirby dam collapsed near Atlanta.

County Summary: The collapse of the Kirby dam near Atlanta cut off electrical power to residents and blocking the access bridge to Atlanta.  Mine tailings containing arsenic, mercury and cadmium were released into the Middle Fork of the Boise River.  A state disaster declaration was issued 9/14/90.

Idaho State Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan

Wildland Fire - 8/1986

Event Summary: Wildfires throughout the state resulted in a state-wide disaster declaration on 8/12/86.  Most of the fires were results of a lightning storm  8/10/86.

County Summary: Wildfire near Anderson Ranch Reservoir burned 27,700 acres

Lewiston Tribune  8/10/86

Flood - February 1986

Event Summary: A warming trend melted low-elevation snow packs, triggering flooding and mudslides throughout western Idaho.   Over $20,000 was spent on flood control efforts.

County Summary: Dam at Fraser Reservoir broke, washing out roads and telephone lines; a 50' long x 4' deep section of Idaho 67 was washed out by floodwaters, another 650' damaged by Canyon Creek floodwaters

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; USDA declared a disaster.

The Idaho Statesman  3/1/86

Flood -  January 17, 1971

Event Summary: Heavy rain and snow over four days caused flooding in southwest Idaho

County Summary: Streets and basements in Mountain Home were flooded with 10" of water.

The Idaho Statesman  1/18/71

Flood -  December 21-23, 1964

Event Summary:    $21,000,000.00 - During the end of December 1964, warm weather combined with heavy rains and melting snow, causing flooding along the Payette, Big Wood, Little Wood, Portneuf, Clearwater and Boise River drainages.  Hwy 21 and 15, US 95N and 30E were closed.  Over 100 homes were damaged, numerous bridges were washed out, and thousands of acres of farmlands were flooded.  2 deaths were attributed to the flood.  A state of emergency was declared.

County Summary:  64 people in Atlanta logging camps isolated b/c of road washouts.  Telephone service to 190 people in Glenns Ferry and Hammett was cut because of a wet cable.

The Idaho Statesman  12/27/64

Avalanche - January-February 1904

Event Summary:  Snow slides

County Summary: Snow slides near Atlanta at Big Chunk Mine killed 2, destroyed cabins

The Idaho Statesman

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues