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 04, 2007

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 expected to be below average for the Shoshone and Wind River Basins.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 425,000 acre-feet (66% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 640,100 acre-feet. Approximately 40,900 acre-feet of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April, leaving 384,100 acre-feet 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 100,000 acre-feet (72% of average), of which 2,800 acre-feet was received in April; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 225,000 acre-feet (56% of average), of which 17,500 acre-feet was received in April. The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 250,000 acre-feet (45% of average), of which 31,400 acre-feet was received in April, leaving 218,600 acre-feet of runoff forecasted for May through July.

As inflows are forecasted to be well below normal, Reclamation is strongly encouraging conservation by water users this year.

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

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page