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 05, 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 May 1, forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff is expected to be above average for the Shoshone River Basin. In the Wind River Basin, spring snowmelt runoff is expected to be average in the upper portion of the basin and below average in the lower portion of the basin.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 720,000 acre-feet (112% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 644,000 acre-feet. Approximately 21,300 acre-feet of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April, leaving 698,700 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 130,000 acre-feet (93% of average), of which 1,400 acre-feet was received in April; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 400,000 acre-feet (100% of average), of which 15,100 acre-feet was received in April. The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 500,000 acre-feet (91% of average), of which 28,700 acre-feet was received in April, leaving 471,300 acre-feet of runoff forecasted for May through July.

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

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page