- Reclamation
- Missouri Basin
- Montana Area Office
- Bighorn River System Issues Group
Bighorn River System Issues Group
(Above) Yellowtail Dam and
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Purpose Statement
The Bighorn River System Issues Group is formed to identify, explore, and recommend alternative courses of action to local, tribal, state, and federal entities responsible for managing the Bighorn River system resources for their consideration as part of a long-term management strategy. The challenge is to re-examine the uses and needs of the Bighorn River system to find an appropriate balance of public benefits, while recognizing the respective agencies’ commitments to authorized project purposes, legal obligations, contemporary needs and public expectations.
Problem Statement
Local, state, tribal, and federal entities are concerned that the Bighorn River system is not being managed in a way that fully protects and utilizes the system’s resources to address the multiple demands, needs, and expectations of the public.
Operating Criteria
- RiverWare Modeling Review of Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria
- RiverWare Modeling Review of Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria--Appendices A, B, & C.
- Comments Received on Yellowtail Unit Operating Criteria (January 2015) (26.36MB)
- Final Draft Yellowtail Unit Operating Criteria Evaluation Study & Report
- Draft Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria (Changes for the 2012 Water Year)
Yellowtail Dam Reservoir Operations Spreadsheets
- Bighorn Lake Rule Curves (Requires Microsoft Excel)
- Non-irrigation Season Bighorn River Release Calculations (Requires Microsoft Excel)
Spring 2019
- April 11, 2019 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria Review – Results & Recommendations
- Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria Review – Implementation
- Boysen & Buffalo Bill Operations – Wyoming Area Office
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply – Montana Area Office
- Bighorn River and Reservoir Update
- Wyoming Bighorn Fisheries Update
Spring 2018
- April 24, 2018 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply
- Bighorn River and Reservoir Fisheries Update
- National Park Service Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
- Analysis of Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria
- Western Area Power Administration 101
- Wyoming Area Office Boysen & Buffalo Bill Operations
- Wyoming Bighorn Fisheries Update
- Yellowtail Simulator Visual April 24, 2018
November 2017
- November 16, 2017 Meeting Agenda
- November 16, 2017 Bighorn Reservoir Operations
- Bighorn Lake/Bighorn River Operating Criteria
- November 16, 2017 Analysis of Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria
- Bighorn Lake/Yellowtail Dam Operations and Water Year 2017 Review
- Yellowtail Afterbay Hydropower
- Water Quality Monitoring Yellowtail Afterbay/Bighorn River
- USGS Study of Cycling of Selenium and Mercury
- Sedimentation Study Updated
April 2017
- April 13, 2017 Meeting Agenda
- National Park Service/Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
- Wyoming Area Office-Boysen/ Buffalo Bill Operations
- Wyoming Bighorn Fisheries
- Bighorn Fisheries Update
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply Meeting
- Montana Mussel Response
November 2016
- November 17, 2016 Meeting Agenda
- November 17, 2016 Bighorn Meeting
- Bighorn Lake/Yellowtail Dam Operations and Water Year 2016 Review
- Crow Tribe Development of Hydropower at Yellowtail Afterbay
- Bighorn River Alliance and Bureau of Reclamation Issues Group Meeting
April 2016
- April 14, 2016 Meeting Agenda
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snowpack and Streamflow Update
- Yellowtail Dam/ Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria
- Sediment Pilot Study
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply Meeting
November 2015
- November 15, 2015 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply Meeting
- Bighorn Reservoir Sedimentation
- Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement
- Bighorn Lake Fishery Update November 2015
- Yellowstone River Cumulative Effects Analysis
- Yellowtail Dam/ Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria
April 2015
- April 23, 2015 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Basin Operations and Water Supply Meeting
- Bighorn Reservoir Sedimentation
- Bighorn Reservoir Silt EHarvey
November 2014
- November 12, 2014 Meeting Agenda
- Crow Tribe Projects Status
- EPA NPDES Permitting
- Montana Fishery Update
- Recap and Outlook of Wyoming Reservoir Operations
- Recap and Outlook of Yellowtail Operations
- USGS Mercury Study Review
- Water Quality Issues Fort Smith
- Wyoming Fishery Update
- Yellowtail Unit Criteria Briefing
April 2014
- April 16, 2014 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Lake Sedimentation Study Proposal
- Crow Water Rights Settlement Status
- Mercury in Fish
- River Stage
- Wyoming Fishery Update
- Sediment Management Study
November 2013
- November 07, 2013 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Lake Fishery Update November 2013
- Crow Water Rights Settlement Status
- Wyoming Bighorn Reservoir Operations
- Montana Fishery Update
- Recap and Outlook of Yellowtail Operations
April 2013
October 2012
- October 3, 2012 Draft Meeting Agenda
- Meeting Summary Notes (October 3, 2012)
- Recap of 2012 Operations
- Bighorn Side Channel Hydraulics
- Bighorn Side Channel Investigation (Final Report)
- Draft Bighorn Lake Sediment Management Reconnaissance Study Scope
April 2012
October 2011
- Meeting Summary Notes (October 13, 2011)
- Operating Objectives
- Criteria Overview
- Review of 2011 Operations
- Proposed Changes
- Flood Control
- Yellowtail Model Results
March 2011
Bighorn River System Issues Group Meeting Scheduled: On Thursday, March 31, 2011, from 9:00 am until approximately 3:00 pm, Reclamation will be hosting a meeting of the Bighorn River System Issues Group at the Community Center Building in Lovell, Wyoming. One of the main topics of discussion will be the Draft Modified Operating Criteria for Yellowtail Dam and Reservoir. Your participation is most welcome and greatly appreciated.
January 2011
- Draft Bighorn Lake Operating Criteria Evaluation Study & Report
- Comment Form - (comments due by January 28, 2011)
- Using the Draft Criteria Presentation
- Recap of Resource Needs Presentation
- Operating Requirements and Objectives Presentation
September 28, 2010
- September 28, 2010 Meeting Agenda
- September 28, 2010 Meeting Notes
- Climate Change Presentation
- Bighorn River Criteria Presentation
- Yellowtail Curves Presentation
- Moss - 2010
April 8, 2010
- April 8, 2010 Meeting Agenda
- April 8, 2010 Meeting Notes
- Yellowtail Dam Reallocation Study, Final Report
- Bighorn Lake Sediment Management Study, Final Report
- Bighorn River Geomorphic Analysis Final Report
September 29, 2009
- September 29, 2009 Meeting Notes
- Side Channel Investigations, Reclamation
- Moss Effects on River Stage, Reclamation
- Operating Criteria Review, Reclamation
- Reallocation Study, USACE
- Sediment Management Study, USACE
- Yellowtail Dam Reallocation Study Report
- Bighorn Sediment Final Report
- Bighorn River Geomorphic Analysis
April 2, 2009
- April 2, 2009 Meeting Summary
- April 2, 2009 Meeting Agenda
- Reservoir Simulator, Doug Haacke
- Technical Studies Update, Reclamation
- Yellowtail Dam Operation Rule Curves, Reclamation
January 15, 2009
- January 15, 2009 Meeting Summary
- January 15, 2009 Meeting Agenda
- Bighorn Lake Sedimentation Management Study Update, USACE
- Yellowtail Flood Pool Reallocation Study Update, USACE
- Preliminary VARQ Rule Curves for Yellowtail Dam, MTFWP
- Yellowtail Dam Operation Rule Curves, Reclamation
- Yellowtail Dam and Bighorn Reservoir Assessment Report and Outlook
October 9, 2008
- October 9, 2008 Meeting Summary
- October 9, 2008 Agenda
- Power Marketing
- Recap of Resource Needs
- VarqQ and GorQ
- Moss Effects on the River
July 29, 2008
- July 29, 2008 Meeting Summary
- July 29, 2008 Agenda
- Climate Change and Potential Impacts to Water Operations, Reclamation
- The VARQ Experience, Reclamation
- Biological Implications of VARQ Operations in the Bighorn Watershed, MTFWP
- Reservoir Operating Criteria: Proposed Modifications, Reclamation
- Yellowtail Flood Pool Reallocation Study Update, USACE
- Bighorn Lake Sediment Management Study Update, USACE
- Bighorn River Side Channel Study Update, Reclamation
May 21, 2008
March 13, 2008
- March 13, 2008 Meeting Summary
- March 13, 2008 Draft Agenda
- Wyoming Game & Fish Lake Elevation Criteria
- Yellowtail Dam Reservoir Resource Needs
January 17, 2008
- January 17, 2008 Meeting Agenda
- Yellowtail Reallocation Study Power Point Presentation
- Bighorn River Flows Power Point Presentation
- January 17, 2008 Meeting Summary
- Bighorn Lake Sediment Management Study
October 18, 2007
- October 18, 2007 Meeting Agenda, Lovell, WY
- Bighorn_Presentation: October 18, 2007
- Bighorn Side Channels Presentation
- October 18, 2007 Meeting Summary
- Presentation by Wyoming Game & Fish on the Bighorn Lake Fisheries
- Climate Change and Potential Impacts on Western Rivers
August 23, 2007
- August 23 Meeting Minutes
- Agenda, Billings, MT
- Where Are We Going Power Point Presentation: August 22, 2007
June 8, 2007
- Agenda, Lovell, WY
- Group Process, Meeting & Schedule
- Crow Compact Water Supply (presentation)
- Overview of Montana Water Rights (presentation)
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Service - Administration of Water Rights on the Big Horn River System (presentation) Wyoming State Engineer's Office
- Boysen & Buffalo Bill Reservoir Operations (presentation) Bureau of Reclamation
- Summary of Meeting and Flip-Chart Notes, Lovell, WY
April 12, 2007
- April 12, 2007 Flip Chart & Meeting Summary, Fort Smith, Montana
- April 12, 2007 Meeting Agenda, Fort Smith, Montana
- Power Generation, presented by Western Area and Power Administration
- Yellowtail Dam and Bighorn Lake Operations, presented by the Bureau of Reclamation
- Yellowtail Unit and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area – Authorization’s, Project Purposes, and Development Plans, presented by the Bureau of Reclamation*
March 8, 2007
- March 8, 2007 Flip Chart & Meeting Summary, Powell, Wyoming
- March 8, 2007 Meeting Agenda, Powell, Wyoming
Supplementary Information
Last Updated: 5/24/21
