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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: May 05, 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 May 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 2,050,000 acre feet (AF) or 227 percent of the 30 year average of 904,000 AF. Approximately 1,750,000 AF (245 percent of average) of the runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir (of which 171,700 AF was received in April), with an additional 80,000 AF (136% of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River (of which 3,700 AF was received in April), and the balance of 220,000 AF (168% of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir (of which 44,400 AF was received in April). The above forecast is based on record high snowpack levels in the basin above Seminoe Reservoir.
In anticipation of the high forecasted runoff, over 400,000 acre-feet of water has been evacuated in March and April from the reservoir system, with releases for evacuation purposes continuing. The release from Kortes Dam is currently approximately 9,500 cfs through the Miracle Mile. The release below Pathfinder Dam is approximately 3,000 cfs. The release from Gray Reef Dam is 5,400 cfs and is expected to increase to 6,000 cfs by mid May. The Guernsey Reservoir release is currently 6,200 cfs and will be adjusted to provide a targeted flow at the Wyoming-Nebraska State Line river gauge of approximately 5,500 cfs. Pathfinder Reservoir is expected to begin spilling over the un-gated spillway in mid May and continue to spill into early July. Glendo Reservoir is projected to enter the exclusive flood control space in late May, at which time releases are directed by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control purposes. In addition, the Glendo flood control space is projected to fill to a level greater than last year in an effort to provide downstream flood protection in Wyoming and Nebraska. The entire reservoir system will be full by early July. Additional adjustments in releases throughout the upcoming weeks are probable as the runoff picture continues to change.
These releases will result in changing reservoir levels. The public should be aware of the changing flows in the North Platte River along with the changing reservoir levels and take proper precautions.
The Wyoming Area Office uses the most recent 30 year period (1981-2010) to determine average.
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