News Release Archive

Jackson Lake Dam Operations Public Meeting Set

Media Contact: David Walsh, (208) 378-5026, dwalsh@usbr.gov
Mike Beus

For Release: May 10, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting to present streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake Dam and other Snake River reservoirs on May 19. The public meeting will be held at the Antler Inn Conference Room, 43 West Pearl Street, in Jackson, Wyoming, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Snow accumulation above Jackson Lake Dam has been above average since mid-February, and April was extraordinarily cool and wet. Continued accumulation of precipitation, including late snowfall after the time that snowmelt usually begins, has increased runoff forecasts to near record levels.

To prepare for high flows, river discharge below Jackson Lake Dam has been held at 5,000 cubic feet per second since April 19 and was increased to 7,000 cfs on Monday May 9.

"Almost 400,000 acre-feet of reservoir space in Jackson Lake Dam is available to alleviate potential flooding," said Mike Beus, Reclamation Water Manager. "That should be enough space to regulate the river immediately below Jackson Lake Dam, but many unregulated streams contribute to the total flow. The volume of water predicted this year is near the limit of our system's ability to regulate; unless the weather cooperates, flood flows are likely."

The meeting facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Jami Andersen, with the Bureau of Reclamation Upper Snake Field Office at (208) 678-0461, ext. 22 for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other auxiliary aids.

To find current river and reservoir data, go to www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet or for more information regarding Reclamation programs, visit Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region website at: www.usbr.gov/pn.

Jackson Lake Dam is located on the Snake River near Moran, WY. The dam is part of the Minidoka Project and was originally constructed in 1911. It was later reconstructed in 1989 under authority of Reclamation's Safety of Dams Act.

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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:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet

http://www.usbr.gov/pn