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- Fluctuation of North Platte River flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
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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, 2008
The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyoming, 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 that have accumulated over the winter from spawning gravels in the river, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager.
On March 17, 2008, 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 18, March 19, March 20, and March 21, 2008. After completing the flushing flow on March 21, 2008, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to a flow of 500 cfs.
Should river conditions not be favorable because of ice 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 over the winter. 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 caution during this period of rapid fluctuation of flows below Gray Reef Dam.
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