News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Snowmelt Runoff Forecast - Bighorn Basin

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@usbr.gov
Buck Feist, bfeist@usbr.gov

For Release: February 04, 2010

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 Feb. 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.

The Shoshone River portion of the Bighorn River Basin forecasted inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period is 475,000 acre-feet (af) (72 percent of average), compared to a 30-year average of 660,000 af.

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 115,000 af (82 percent of average), and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 260,000 af (64 percent of average). The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period is 400,000 af (72 percent of average), compared to a 30-year average of 553,000 af.

The Wyoming Area Office uses the most recent 30-year period (1980-2009) to determine average.

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page