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- Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
News Release Archive
Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
Media Contact:
John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov
For Release: March 07, 2007
The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGF), has scheduled a series of fluctuating flows in the North Platte River downstream of Gray Reef Dam. The purpose of the fluctuations is to improve trout reproduction by flushing fine sediments from spawning gravels in the river, according to John H. Lawson, Area Manager of the Bureau of Reclamation, Wyoming Area Office in Mills, Wyoming.
On March 19, 2007, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4000 cfs and will be made according to the following schedule:
| HOURS | GRAY REEF OUTFLOWS (cfs) |
| 00:01 to 01:00 a.m. | 500 |
| 01:00 to 03:00 a.m. | 2000 |
| 03:00 to 07:00 a.m. | 4000 |
| 07:00 to 08:00 a.m. | 3000 |
| 08:00 to 09:00 a.m. | 2000 |
| 09:00 to 10:00 a.m. | 1000 |
| 10:00 to midnight | 500 |
This schedule will be repeated again on March 20, March 21, March 22, and March 23, 2007. After completing the flushing flow on March 23, 2007, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will be stabilized at approximately 500 cfs for the rest of the month.
Should river conditions not be favorable because of climatic conditions, the series of flushing flows will be cancelled.
The flushing flows are expected to clean the spawning gravels of fine sediment which has accumulated throughout the year. Performing the flush at this time of the year will clean gravels for the spring trout spawning. The fluctuations in the river flow will be achieved without loss of power generation and the water released from Alcova Reservoir will be restored downstream in Glendo Reservoir.
The public is urged to use extreme caution during this period of rapid fluctuation of flows below Gray Reef Dam.
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