News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Snowmelt Runoff Forecast - Bighorn Basin

Media Contact: John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@usbr.gov
Tyler Johnson, tjohnson@usbr.gov

For Release: June 07, 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 June 1 forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff indicates near to 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 580,000 acre-feet (af) (88 percent of average), compared to a 30-year average of 660,000 af. Approximately 110,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir during April and May, leaving 470,000 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 160,000 af (114 percent of average), of which approximately 19,000 af was received in April and May; and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 320,000 af (79 percent of average), of which approximately 73,000 af was received in April and May. The forecasted inflow to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period has increased significantly to 880,000 af (159 percent of average), of which approximately 223,000 af was received in April and May, leaving 657,000 af of runoff forcasted for June through July. The June 1 forecasted inflow of 880,000 af is an increase of 310,000 af over the May 1 forecast and is attributable to rainfall in the basin and a significant increase in snowpack conditions that occurred during the first 20 days in May.

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