The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared the March snowmelt runoff forecasts and operating plans for the North Platte River Basin.
MILLS, Wyo. – The March forecasts indicate that the spring snowmelt runoff will be below average. Total April through July runoff in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 690,000 acre-feet (af), which is 73% of the 30-year average.
The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 af. As of February 28, 2025, the combined storage content in the North Platte Reservoirs was 1,552,700 af, which is 92% of the 30-year average.
Current Releases:
- Seminoe Reservoir (through Miracle Mile): 530 cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Gray Reef Reservoir: 500 cfs
- Glendo Reservoir: 25 cfs
- Guernsey Reservoir: No releases
Projected Releases for May, June, and July:
- Seminoe Reservoir: Expected to peak at around 2,600 cfs
- Gray Reef Reservoir: Expected to be in the range of approximately 1,000 to 2,500 cfs
- Guernsey Reservoir: Expected to be in the range of 1,600 to 5,000 cfs
Additional Information:
- Pathfinder Reservoir is not expected to spill this spring.
- Based on our current forecast, an allocation is not expected for our North Platte Project contractors.
The Reclamation’s Wyoming Area Office operates seven reservoirs on the North Platte River, with Seminoe Reservoir being the farthest upstream and Guernsey Reservoir the farthest downstream. This system provides irrigation supply to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and produces power generation from six powerplants, which supply power to tens of thousands of homes.
