News Release Archive

Bighorn River Basin Snowmelt Runoff Forecast

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: May 02, 2006

The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyoming, has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the Shoshone and Wind Rivers of the Bighorn River Basin, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager. The May 1, forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff is below normal for all areas.

The Bighorn Basin forecast indicates inflows from the Shoshone River to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period will be 500,000 acre-feet (AF) (77% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 653,100 AF. Approximately 37,000 AF of water flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April leaving 463,000 AF of inflow forecasted for May through July.

The Wind River portion of the Bighorn River Basin April through July inflow forecast includes the snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 110,000 AF (79% of average), of which 3,700 AF was received in April; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 280,000 AF (68% of average), of which 20,800 AF was received in April. The expected inflows to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period are 350,000 AF (62% of average), of which 36,200 AF was received in April leaving 313,800 AF of runoff forecasted for May through July.

The Bureau of Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in June.

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Relevant Link:

Great Plains Region Home Page

Wyoming Area Office Home Page