News Release Archive

Jackson Lake Operations Topic of Public Meeting

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Mike Beus, mbeus@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: May 05, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting on May 14 to present streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake and other reservoirs of Reclamation's Minidoka and Palisades Projects. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Antler Inn Conference Room, 43 West Pearl Street, in Jackson, Wyoming.

Upper Snake River natural flow in 2008 was very close to average measured as a total seasonal volume. A cooler than average spring and late snow accumulation resulted in high, snowmelt based, flows that extended well into July. The near average inflow and irrigation diversions that started later than in other recent years left Jackson Lake and other Reclamation reservoirs at and above average levels at the start of water year 2009. The snow water equivalent is about where it was at this time in 2008. Jackson Lake is higher due to carryover storage, while Palisades Reservoir is at the same level as last year because of flood control releases in April.

Flows immediately below Jackson Lake Dam have been increasing since April 27 and will reach 3,600 cubic feet per second by May 8.

"While temperature trends have been cool, warm weather the week of April 20 initiated snowmelt inflow and gave us a queue to initiate springtime operations," said Mike Beus, Water Operations Manager for the Upper Snake River Field Office.

In addition to forecast operations, the meeting will include a review of 2008 operations and an Aquatic Invasive Species prevention presentation by Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel.

The meeting facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Jami Andersen at (208) 678-0461, ext. 22 at the Snake River Area Office in Burley, Idaho, for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other auxiliary aids.

More information regarding Reclamation programs can be found on Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region website at: www.usbr.gov/pn. For current streamflows and reservoir elevations, click on the Hydromet link.

Jackson Lake Dam is located on the Snake River near Moran, Wyoming. The dam is part of the Minidoka Project and was originally constructed in 1911. It was later reconstructed in 1989 under authority of Reclamation's Safety of Dams Act.

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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:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn