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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, 10/01/2009 06:00
Michael R. Odle, modle@usbr.gov
For Release: October 01, 2009
The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of and in collaboration with 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 by flushing fine sediments that have accumulated over the summer from spawning gravels in the river, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager.
On Oct. 12, 2009, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4000 cfs 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. | 2000 |
| 03:00 to 07:00 a.m. | 4000 |
| 07:00 to 08:00 a.m. | 3000 |
| 08:00 to 09:00 a.m. | 2000 |
| 09:00 to 10:00 a.m. | 1000 |
| 10:00 to midnight | 500 |
This schedule will be repeated again on Oct. 13, Oct. 14, Oct. 15, and Oct. 16, 2009. After completing the flushing flow on Oct. 16, 2009, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to a winter flow of 500 cfs.
The flushing flows are expected to clean the spawning gravels of fine sediment which has accumulated over the summer. 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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