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: June 06, 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 June 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 470,000 acre-feet (AF) (72% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 653,100 AF. Approximately 236,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April and May, leaving 234,000 AF of inflow forecasted for June 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 90,000 AF (64% of average), of which 39,000 AF was received in April and May; 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 116,000 AF was received in April and May. The expected inflows to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period are 300,000 AF (53% of average), of which 107,000 AF was received in April and May, leaving 193,000 AF of runoff forecasted for June through July.

As inflows are forecasted to be well below normal, particularly in the Wind/Bighorn Basin, Reclamation is strongly encouraging conservation by water users this year.

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