News Release Archive

Wyoming Area Reservoir Conditions - North Platte River Basin

Media Contact: Lyle D. Myler, (307) 261-5671, lmyler@usbr.gov

For Release: April 04, 2012

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 Lyle Myler, Acting Wyoming Area Manager. The April 1 forecast indicates the spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin will be below average.

Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 535,000 acre feet (af) or 55% of the 30 year average of 967,700 af. Approximately 350,000 af (45% of average) of the runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir with an additional 50,000 af (82% of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and the balance of 135,000 af (99% of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir.

The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir System as of March 29, 2012 is 2,340,768 af, which is 140% of the 30-year average of 1,677,600 af. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,841,000 af.

Due to the significant reduction in the forecasted inflows, early releases from Guernsey Reservoir are not anticipated at this time.

Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in May.

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Relevant Link:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page