News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Snowmelt Runoff Forecast - Bighorn Basin

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, 03/04/2009 00:00
Michael R. Odle, modle@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: March 04, 2009

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 March 1 forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff indicates below average April through July snowmelt runoff can be expected at all forecast locations within the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming except the Shoshone River inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 650,000 acre-feet (AF) (101 percent of average), compared to a 30-year average of 646,000 AF.

In the Wind River portion of the Bighorn River Basin, the April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 125,000 AF (90 percent of average), and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 350,000 AF (88 percent of average). The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 400,000 AF (74 percent of average), compared to a 30-year average of 542,000 AF.

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page