News Release Archive

Water Releases Increase at Shadehill Reservoir

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

For Release: August 09, 2012

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Reclamation will be increasing water releases from Shadehill Reservoir through Labor Day to draw down the reservoir to allow contractors to begin shore protection work at Ketterling's Point.

Water releases will range between 40 cubic feet per second (cfs) and 160 cfs, depending on weather and inflows into the reservoir. Reclamation will partner with South Dakota Game Fish and Parks to coordinate recreation activities and complete the shoreline protection work at Ketterling's Point.

According to Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facility Operation and Maintenance and Engineering Services for Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office, the shore protection contract at Shadehill Reservoir will start after Labor Day and be completed this fall.

"The present water surface elevation at Shadehill Reservoir is 2264.3," said Nettleton. "The water elevation will need to be drawn down to 2263.5 by Labor Day to allow the contractor to install riprap protection along the shoreline of Ketterling's Point Recreation Area."

Jim Straight, District Park Manager for Shadehill Recreation Area, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, stated that the boat ramps at Ketterling's Point and the West Cabin area are open and will remain open as the water level is drawn down.

Following is the status of Reclamation's South Dakota Reservoirs and Keyhole Reservoir in northeastern Wyoming:

Shadehill

Inflows into Shadehill Reservoir for the water year of 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012) are 25 percent of average through July.

Keyhole Reservoir

Keyhole Reservoir is currently at elevation 4,096.4, with full reservoir elevation being 4,099.3. The controlled release through the outlet works is 110 cfs to meet irrigation demands. Inflows for the water year are 90 percent of average through July and Keyhole Reservoir is 87 percent full.

Belle Fourche

Belle Fourche Reservoir is currently at elevation 2,963.6, with a full reservoir elevation being 2,975. 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 the city of Belle Fourche, through the Inlet Canal to the reservoir. Irrigation demand has been high due to the dry summer. The reservoir is currently 54 percent full.

Angostura Reservoir

The current water elevation at Angostura Reservoir is 3,177.7. Angostura Reservoir is full at elevation 3,187.2. Inflows into Angostura for water year 2012 are 34 percent of average for the period of record of the reservoir.

Pactola

Inflows into Pactola Reservoir are 89 percent of average for the water year. Pactola's current elevation is 4574.4 and the reservoir is 91 percent full. The full reservoir elevation at Pactola is 4580.2. Inflows into Pactola Reservoir have dropped off to around 25 cfs and the current release is 70 cfs.

Deerfield Reservoir

Deerfield Reservoir is at elevation 5,907.3, which is 0.7 feet from full. The release from Deerfield to Castle Creek is 10 cfs, and inflows into Deerfield Reservoir for the water year are 124 percent of average.

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Relevant Link:

Dakotas Area Office Home Page