Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Valley County has three incorporated communities, Cascade (pop. 997), Donnelly (138), and McCall (pop. 2,084). The total population for the county in 2000 was 7,651. That is an increase of 25% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 3,733 square miles.

Historical Background

Established February 26, 1917 with its county seat at Cascade. Named for the outstanding topographical feature of the area, Long Valley. Fur trappers were the first white men in the area but permanent settlement did not take place until the 1880s when livestock ranchers moved into Long Valley.

County Seat: Cascade

Flood - April 15, 2002

Event Summary:    $100,000.00 - Heavy spring rains dumped .5" of rain in a half hour in South central Idaho.  The rain, combined with already saturated ground and spring snowmelt, caused flooding and mudslides.

County Summary: Mudslides and floodwaters washed out the Mud Creek bridge near Donnelly, closing roads and stranding hundreds of families. The slides destroyed nine culverts and a sewer line, sending sewage into Lake Cascade.  Valley County was declared a disaster area, and received a $100,000 Idaho Community Development Block Grant to repair the damaged roadway and sewer infrastructure.

Department of Commerce letter dated September 6, 2002; The Idaho Statesman, April 16, 2002, April 20, 2002

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 wildlife habitat was destroyed.

County Summary: 

Wildland Fire - Toll Road Fire; Loosum Creek Fire - August 17, 1998

Event Summary:    The Toll Road Fire on Hwy 21 and the Loosum Creek Fire near Yellow Pine closed roads and threatened homes.

County Summary: The Loosum Creek Fire near Yellow Pine burned more than 200 acres and  threatened several homes.

The Idaho Statesman 8/17/98

Flood - New Year's Day Storm - January 1-5, 1997

Event Summary:    $65,000,000.00 - New Year's day floods in the Weiser, Payette and Salmon River drainages of southwestern Idaho caused record flooding and numerous mudslides.  Warm temperatures combined with a rainfall 4-6 times the normal amount; the resulting snowmelt triggered devastating floods, mudslides and avalanches, extensively damaging communities and infrastructure throughout Idaho.  The community of South Banks was condemned because of extensive slide damage.  Over 400 miles of roads and several railroad lines were blocked or destroyed, stranding over 10,000 holiday travelers in western Idaho. Residents of McCall, Cascade, Banks, Lowman and Garden Valley were isolated.  Rivers were "running like chocolate," carrying huge trees, mud and boulders; the Snake River at Hells Canyon Dam crested at 101,728 cfs January  1, nearly 30,000 cfs over its previous record level on 2/23/82.  The crash of a plane carrying 5 people from Boise to McCall, killing all, was a result of the weather.  Governor Batt declared 13 counties a disaster: Gem, Adams, Washington,  Idaho, Clearwater, Valley, Payette, Elmore, Latah, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Boise.  A Federal disaster was declared on January 4, 1997.

County Summary:  $31,728.00

The Idaho Statesman 3/20/97

Wildland Fire - September 1994

Event Summary:   One killed, one home destroyed in summer wildfires that burned a total of over 750,000 acres, resulting in state-wide disaster declarations 7/30/94 and 8/26/94.    More than 5,000 firefighters battled the fires.

County Summary: Blackwell Complex burned over 55,000 acres, forced evacuation of residents on east side of Payette Lake; Corral Creek fire burned over 92,000 acres.

The Idaho Statesman 9/94

Wind - August 7, 1993

Event Summary:  Windstorms in Western Idaho, with sustained gusts up to 50 mph, caused property damage.

County Summary: A windstorm with gusts up to 50 mph knocked down trees and power lines.  One person was injured when high winds knocked down a canopy.  Boat docks at Cascade Reservoir were destroyed.

The Idaho Statesman 8/8/93

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

Wildland Fire - Squaw Lake Fire - September 6, 1991

Event Summary:  The Squaw Lake Fire burned approximately 300 acres, 1 firefighter injured by a falling tree.

County Summary: 300 acres were burned by the Squaw Lake Fire, and 1 firefighter was injured

The Idaho Statesman 9/8/91

Wildland Fire - Lowman Fire; Warm Lake Fire - July 16, 1989

Event Summary:   Thousands of acres in South central Idaho burned in lightning-caused forest fires.

County Summary: The Warm Lake Fire closed all roads around Warm Lake and forced the evacuation of Warren.

The Idaho Statesman August 1, 5, 6, 23, 1989

Earthquake - December 27, 1987

Event Summary:  Earthquake near Cascade

County Summary: 2 minor tremors shook homes in Cascade; no damages were reported.

The Idaho Statesman 12/28/87

Earthquake - November 27-28, 1977

Event Summary:   Three mild earthquakes shook SW Idaho and Eastern Oregon.  These quakes measured Magnitude 4.5, Intensity VI.

County Summary: Property damage from the three Magnitude 4.5 earthquakes was reported in Cascade, such as cracked foundations and sheetrock walls.  Muddy water was reported in wells and springs.

The Idaho Statesman Nov. 28 and 29, 1977, Dec 4, 1977; Seismicity of the United States

Flood - January 17, 1971

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

County Summary:  Numerous roofs and sheds, including the roof at the McCall-Donnelly school gym, collapsed under the weight of the wet

The Idaho Statesman 1/18/71

Earthquake - 1970

Event Summary:  Earthquakes in Valley County

County Summary: Six shakes hit the area, 2 measuring Magnitude 4.3 each.  No damage was reported.

The Idaho Statesman 11/29/77

Flood - January 22, 1969

Event Summary:  Heavy rain and snow over five days caused creeks and rivers to rise rapidly, leading to flooding in the Boise watershed and throughout the state.

County Summary: McCall received 1.25" of precipitation in 24 hours, bringing its January total to 4.64".

The Idaho Statesman 1/22/69

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: Slides caused by snowmelt and rains caused highway and railroad closures and travel delays.

The Idaho Statesman 12/24/64

Earthquake - October 18, 1950

Event Summary: Earthquake at Cascade

County Summary: Several shocks at Cascade cracked plaster.  Intensity V.

Earthquake History of the United States

Earthquake - 7/12/1944

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

County Summary: 2 chimneys fell at Cascade.

Salmon Herald, USGS

Earthquake - December 18, 1937

Event Summary: Earthquake near Cascade, Intensity V, felt throughout west-central Idaho.

County Summary: Earthquake centered near Cascade.  The quake moved furniture, but no major damage reported.

Earthquake History of the United States

Earthquake - November 2, 1933

Event Summary:  Earthquake centered near Donnelly

County Summary: Earthquake centered near Donnelly cracked walls and caused minor structural damage.  "Cascade area experienced a pretty severe quake"

"Idaho Quake Potential Ranked Severe in East" 3/4/73

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues