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: April 02, 2008

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 April 1 forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff is expected to be above average for the Shoshone River Basin and below average in the Wind River Basin.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 680,000 acre-feet (AF) (106% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 644,000 acre-feet.

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 130,000 AF (93% of average), and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 370,000 AF (92% of average). The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 500,000 AF (91% of average).

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

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page