News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Reservoir Conditions - North Platte River Basin

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

For Release: February 07, 2011

The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the North Platte River Basin, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager. The Feb. 1 forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin is above average.

Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,430,000 acre feet (af) or 155% of the 30 year average of 925,100 af. Approximately 1,200,000 af (168% of average) of the runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir with an additional 60,000 af (102% of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and the balance of 170,000 af (129% of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir.

The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir System as of January 31, 2011 is 2,212,700 af, which is 141% of the 30-year average of 1,564,800 af. The total conservation storage capacity is 2,787,800 af for the North Platte Reservoir System.

Due to the well above average forecasted runoff and high reservoir storage, releases from Guernsey Reservoir are anticipated to be initiated in early March this year. The early release will provide space for regulation of runoff this spring.

Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in March, April, and May.

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page