News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Reservoir Information

Media Contact: Jeff Nettleton, (605) 394-9757
Darrin Goetzfried

For Release: March 17, 2010

Controlled water releases from Dickinson Reservoir (Patterson Lake) began today, the Bureau of Reclamation announced. The water will be released through a 24-inch diameter outlet pipe.

"The water releases will provide some melting of river ice prior to peak snowmelt and service spillway releases from Patterson Lake," said Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facility Operation and Maintenance and Engineering Services at Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office. "Significant snowmelt and increased water inflows into the reservoir are expected later this week when temperatures warm to the upper 40's and 50's."

Water releases from the reservoir will increase as snowmelt occurs and water inflows into the reservoir increase. Landowners along the river below the dam should expect river levels to rise several feet which could cause lowland flooding.

# # #

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:

Dakotas Area Office Home Page