News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Snowmelt Runoff Forecast - Bighorn Basin

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@usbr.gov
Michael R. Odle, modle@usbr.gov

For Release: May 05, 2009

The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., 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 indicates above average April through July snowmelt runoff can be expected at all forecast locations within the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 750,000 acre-feet (AF) (116 percent of average). Approximately 52,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April, leaving 698,000 AF of inflow forecasted for May through July.

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 150,000 AF (108 percent of average), of which 3,000 AF was received in April; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 500,000 AF (126 percent of average), of which 20,000 AF was received in April. The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 700,000 AF (129 percent of average), of which 53,000 AF was received in April, leaving 647,000 AF of runoff forecasted for May through July.

The Wyoming Area Office uses the most recent 30-year period (1979-2008) to determine average.

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page