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: June 03, 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 June 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 720,000 acre-feet (AF) (111 percent of average). Approximately 298,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir in April and May, leaving 422,000 AF of inflow forecasted for June 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 130,000 AF (94 percent of average), of which 34,000 AF was received in April and May; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 350,000 AF (88 percent of average), of which 128,000 AF was received in April and May. The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 480,000 AF (89 percent of average), of which 183,000 AF was received in April and May, leaving 297,000 AF of runoff forecasted for June 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