News Release Archive

Jackson Lake Dam Operations Public Meeting Set

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@usbr.gov
Mike Beus, mbeus@usbr.gov

For Release: May 06, 2013

BURLEY, Idaho - The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting to explain streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake Dam and other Snake River reservoirs on May 16 in Jackson, Wyo. The meeting will be held at the 49er Inn & Suites' conference room, 330 West Pearl Ave. at 7:30 p.m.

Forecast runoff for the Snake River in Wyoming is below normal and close to the 2012 condition. Storage in downstream reservoirs is significantly less than last year which may result in a much greater draw on Jackson Lake through the summer season.

On May 1, Jackson Lake was 77 percent full compared with 86 percent in 2012. Palisades Reservoir is 46 percent full, and was 71 percent of capacity this time last year.

"Comparing this year with last, the bright spots are a later snowmelt upstream and a slightly slower beginning of the irrigation season downstream," said Water Operations Manager Mike Beus. "This is the result of cooler weather this year than in 2012."

The 49er Inn & Suites 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.

Jackson Lake Dam, located on the Snake River near Moran, Wyo. It is part of the Minidoka Project and was originally built in 1911, and reconstructed in 1989 under Reclamation's Safety of Dams Program.

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