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- Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
News Release Archive
Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
Media Contact:
John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, 03/10/2009 00:00
Michael R. Odle, modle@gp.usbr.gov
For Release: March 10, 2009
The Bureau of Reclamation, 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 in the river, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager.
On March 30, 2009, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4,000 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. | 2,000 |
| 03:00 to 07:00 a.m. | 4,000 |
| 07:00 to 08:00 a.m. | 3,000 |
| 08:00 to 09:00 a.m. | 2,000 |
| 09:00 to 10:00 a.m. | 1,000 |
| 10:00 to midnight | 500 |
This schedule will be repeated again on March 31, April 1, April 2, and April 3, 2009. After completing the flushing flow on April 3, 2009, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will be set at approximately 2,000 cfs.
Should river conditions not be favorable because of ice conditions, the series of flushing flows will be canceled.
The flushing flows are expected to clean the spawning gravels of fine sediment which has accumulated over the winter. 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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