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North Platte River Water Operations - Public Information Meeting
Media Contact:
John H. Lawson, (307) 261-5671, 04/13/2011 00:00
Tyler Johnson, tjohnson@usbr.gov
For Release: April 13, 2011
The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., has scheduled a North Platte River Water Operations Public Information meeting in Casper, Wyoming, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager.
Due to the well above average forecasted runoff and high reservoir storage of 136% of average for the system, releases from Glendo Reservoir were initiated on February 22, 2011 and releases from Guernsey Reservoir were initiated on Feb. 28, 2011. Glendo and Guernsey Reservoir releases are currently 4,200 cubic feet per second (cfs). The releases from Gray Reef Reservoir were increased from 500 cfs beginning in early March and are currently 4,500 cfs. The flow of the North Platte River through Casper is currently approximately 4,670 cfs as reported by the Casper river gage.
The 2011 forecasted April through July inflow above Seminoe Reservoir is about 200,000 acre-feet more than last year's actual April through July Seminoe inflow of 1,241,900 acre-feet. Releases as high as 7,000 cfs were required from Gray Reef Reservoir last year, resulting in peak flows through Casper of approximately 7,200 cfs. Although early releases are being made to avoid releases as high as last year or higher through Casper, the potential of higher flows this year exists depending on snow pack and precipitation conditions over the next 45 days.
The exclusive flood control space at Glendo Reservoir was utilized under the direction of the Corps of Engineers last year to provide relief to communities along the river in Eastern Wyoming and Western Nebraska. This was necessary due to increased river flows from rainfall events and high inflows from the Laramie River of nearly 5,000 cfs. Glendo Reservoir reached a content of approximately 720,000 acre feet (4648.83 feet), impacting recreation at Glendo State Park in June and July. The current planned operations show utilization of the Glendo flood control space, but to a lesser extent compared to last year. However impacts to Glendo Reservoir may exceed those of last year depending upon rainfall events and inflows from the Laramie River.
The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2211 King Blvd, Casper, Wyoming. The meeting is being held to apprise the public of reservoir storage, river operations, and current water supply conditions. Information regarding snowmelt runoff and expected reservoir operations for water year 2011 will be presented.
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