Drainage Control Program

Boise City Jurisdiction

Responsibility for control of stormwater runoff within the city of Boise is dispersed among several agencies. Street drainage and street drains are the responsibility of the Ada County Highway District (ACHD). Drainage from commercial areas is regulated by the city. Many areas of the city use flood irrigation. In those cases, responsibility for drainage lies with one of several irrigation or drainage districts or local water users associations within the city limits.

Boise City is responsible for operation and maintenance of drainage conveyance systems for stream flows from the four main gulches in the Boise Foothills: Cottonwood Creek, Hulls Gulch, Crane Creek, and Sand Creek.

On-site Detention Program

The Boise Public Works Department also reviews commercial development drainage plans to ensure that stormwater runoff from commercial sites is disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. The Onsite Detention Program limits increases in stormwater volume going into the Boise River by eliminating most offsite discharges from new commercial construction.

Shallow Injection Wells

In the city of Boise, if you are turning in a building permit for seepage bed construction, an Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) shallow injection well inventory form is required.