News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Jackson Lake Operations Meeting in Wyoming

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Mike Beus, mbeus@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: May 07, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting in Jackson, Wyo., on May 16, to present streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake and other reservoirs of Reclamation's Minidoka and Palisades Projects.

The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., at the Antler Inn Conference Room, 43 West Pearl Street, in Jackson. Included on the agenda will be a report on Wyoming glaciers by Greg Kerr, Director, Office of Water Programs at the University of Wyoming.

After near normal winter precipitation in 2006, the 2007 precipitation levels have been similar to 2004 or 2005, according to Mike Beus, Reclamation Water Operations Manager.

"Healthy carryover of stored water from last year will allow Jackson Lake to fill," said Beus. "Since downstream reservoirs are rising to full levels, late summer flows should be moderate in the river reaches between Jackson Lake and Palisades Reservoir."

Beus said flows below Jackson Lake Dam will begin to increase later this week or early next week. The increases will postpone the fill of the lake until after inflow has reached its annual peak and recedes to a manageable level. Then flows will be reduced, following a natural pattern until early July. Once snow on the watershed is substantially exhausted the objective is to keep a steady flow through September.

The meeting facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Jami Andersen at (208) 678-0461, ext. 22 at the Snake River Area Office, Burley, Idaho, if you need sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other auxiliary aids.

More information regarding Bureau of Reclamation programs can be found on the Pacific Northwest Region's internet homepage at: www.usbr.gov/pn. For current streamflows and reservoir elevations, click on the HydroMet link.

Jackson Lake Dam is located on the Snake River near Jackson, Wyo. The dam is part of the Minidoka Project and was originally constructed in 1911. It was later reconstructed in 1989 under authority of Reclamation's Safety of Dams Act.

# # #

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.