News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Pactola Operations Plan

Media Contact: Jeff Nettleton, (605) 394-9757, jnettleton@usbr.gov
Curt Anderson, canderson@usbr.gov

For Release: April 11, 2012

Reclamation today announced the release of the summer 2012 operations plan for Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota.

"We should have a nice full reservoir all summer," said Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facility Operation and Maintenance and Engineering Services for Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office. "Our goal is to fill Pactola Reservoir by early summer, and then draw the reservoir down five feet by Labor Day."

Reclamation is coordinating with the City of Rapid City on the reconstruction of Canyon Lake Dam. The project is scheduled to bid in June 2012, with construction commencing sometime after Labor Day, and a projected completion date of June 2013. During construction, bypasses of Rapid Creek flows around Canyon Lake are limited to approximately 30 cfs (1 cubic foot per second (cfs) = 448.8 gallons per minute).

"Our operations plan allows winter releases to be bypassed around Canyon Lake during the reconstruction project," said Nettleton. "For comparison, the mean Labor Day elevation of Pactola Reservoir from 1956 through 2010 was 4562.5 feet, which is about 12.7 feet lower than the 5-foot drawdown elevation projected for this coming Labor Day of 2012."

Further details on the status of Reclamation's South Dakota Reservoirs and Keyhole Reservoir in northeastern Wyoming are below:

Keyhole Reservoir

The reservoir elevation at the end of March was the highest in 59 years, and only the second time that water flowed out of the uncontrolled spillway. Keyhole Reservoir is currently at elevation 4,099, with full reservoir elevation being 4,099.3. Inflows for Water Year 2012 are 255 percent of average, and controlled release through the outlet works is 95 cfs.

Shadehill

The present elevation at Shadehill is 2,264, which is eight feet from full. Inflows for the 2012 Water Year are 47 percent of average, although inflows for March were only 22 percent of average. A controlled release of 20 cfs is being made to Grand River.

Belle Fourche

Belle Fourche Reservoir is currently at elevation 2,973, with a full reservoir being 2,975. Current inflows into Belle Fourche Reservoir from Inlet Canal are approximately 300 cfs. Belle Fourche Dam is an off-stream storage reservoir located on Owl Creek. The reservoir is filled by diverting water from the Belle Fourche River at the Diversion Dam near Belle Fourche, through the inlet canal to the reservoir. Additional inflows from Owl Creek, which flows directly into the Belle Fourche Reservoir, also contribute to the reservoir during snow melt and precipitation events.

Angostura Reservoir

The current elevation at Angostura is 3,185.85, and no water is currently being released from the dam. Angostura Reservoir is full at elevation 3,187.2. Inflows into the reservoir for the 2012 Water Year are about 94 percent of average.

Pactola

Pactola Reservoir is currently at elevation 4,578.5, which is 1.7 feet from full. Inflows for the 2012 Water Year are 178 percent of average. Pactola releases are currently at 40 cfs, and will be adjusted based on spring inflows. If current inflows to Pactola continue, releases will be adjusted upward over the summer months to achieve the desired five-foot drawdown by Labor Day.

Deerfield Reservoir

Deerfield Reservoir is at elevation 5,907.4, which is 0.6 feet from full. Inflows for the 2012 Water Year are 177 percent of average. The release from Deerfield to Castle Creek is 18 cfs, and releases will be adjusted for spring inflows.

Note: The 2012 water year runs from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012.

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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:

Dakotas Area Office Home Page