News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Reservoir Information

Media Contact: Patience Hurley, (701) 221-1204, phurley@usbr.gov
Michael R. Odle, modle@usbr.gov

For Release: March 30, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation reports that controlled water releases from Dickinson Reservoir (Patterson Lake) over the service spillway will resume tomorrow morning and continue over the next several days. According to Greg Gere, Deputy Area Manager, "the releases will be made to draw the reservoir level down in anticipation of above normal inflows into the reservoir as recent snowfall begins to melt." Increased inflows into the reservoir are expected to begin toward the end of this week when temperatures warm into the upper 30's and 40's. There has been over 30 inches of snowfall in the Dickinson Reservoir drainage basin over the past few weeks. Very little of the recent snow has melted.

Gere explained that the reservoir will be drawn down about 3 to 3.5 feet to the bottom of the service spillway gate, as long as inflow conditions allow. The maximum spillway release on March 18th was approximately 2000 cfs. Manually controlled releases over the next few days will be limited to about 1000 cubic feet per second, which will remain well within safe downstream river channel capacity. However, rising water levels can be expected in the river downstream that may result in lowland flooding. Adjacent landowners should take appropriate precautions.

Downstream releases from the service spillway will increase as snowmelt occurs and the reservoir begins to rise.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Dakotas Area Office Home Page