News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation to Measure Springs Below Yellowtail Dam

Media Contact: Stefanie Jordan, (406) 247-7300, sjordan@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: September 26, 2006

Flows in the Bighorn River will be reduced beginning October 17 and continuing through October 18, 2006, to facilitate measurement of leakage and springs below Yellowtail Dam, according to Tim Felchle of the Reservoir and River Operations Branch of the Bureau of Reclamation's Montana Area Office.

Felchle said the flow reductions will begin at 8:00 p.m. on October 17 when releases from Yellowtail Dam will be gradually reduced to allow evacuation of the Afterbay Reservoir pool. Early on the morning of October 18, releases from the Afterbay Dam will be reduced to 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) and maintained at that rate for approximately 5 hours while the springs are measured. The Afterbay Reservoir will be nearly empty between 7:00 a.m. and noon and the Bighorn River will drop about one and one-half feet during this time. At noon on October 18, plans are to begin gradually increasing releases from the Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn River until a rate of 1,500 cfs is reached. Fishermen and other recreationists planning to use the Bighorn River are cautioned to be aware of the fluctuations in flow that will occur during this time.

According to Felchle, the measurements are an integral part of Reclamation's routine inspection program at Yellowtail Dam. The inspection is conducted every three years after the irrigation season and is timed to minimize impacts to the Bighorn River fishery.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Great Plains Region Home Page

Monana Area Office Home Page