News Release Archive

Pactola Reservoir Update

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

For Release: September 20, 2013

BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has released operation plans for Pactola Reservoir for this winter. Reclamation has been coordinating with the City of Rapid City concerning reconstruction of Canyon Lake Dam. Construction of the project is scheduled to begin late September of 2013, with the planned projected completion date in June 2014. During the construction project, 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).

"On September 23 our release from Pactola Reservoir will go from 75 cfs to 50 cfs. We will then drop the release to 30 cfs on September 25, and then drop to around 18 cfs by September 27," said Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facilities and Engineering Services for Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office. "This will allow winter releases to be bypassed around Canyon Lake during the reconstruction project. The reservoir will be positioned about 6 feet below the full elevation of 4580.20. If we have average inflows into the reservoir over the winter months, the reservoir could be full by the first of May 2014."

The following information provides details on the status of Reclamation's South Dakota Reservoirs and Keyhole Reservoir in northeastern Wyoming.

Shadehill

The current reservoir elevation at Shadehill is 2,270.25, which is 1.75 feet from full. Inflows for the 2013 water year are only 37 percent of average, but recent rains in September raised the reservoir level over 3 feet. A controlled release of 75 cfs is currently being made to the Grand River, but beginning in October a fall release of around 100 cfs will be made until the winter release is set.

Keyhole Reservoir

Keyhole Reservoir is currently at elevation 4,095.0 with a full reservoir elevation being 4,099.3. There is no water being released from the dam at this time. Inflows for water year 2013 are 17 percent of average, while inflows in water year 2012 were 55 percent of average. Storage at the end of water year 2013 is around 151,000 acre-feet, which was the same storage level at the end of water year 2012.

Belle Fourche

Belle Fourche Reservoir is currently at elevation 2,965.0 with a full reservoir elevation being 2,975.0. Current inflows into the Belle Fourche Reservoir from Inlet Canal are approximately 150 cfs. Around 400 cfs is being released to North and South Canals to meet irrigation demands. The shutoff date for irrigation releases is anticipated to be October 1, 2013. 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 just East of the City of 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 3,174.4 which is 12.8 feet from full. The shutoff date for irrigation releases is anticipated to be September 20, 2013. Inflows into the reservoir for the 2013 water year are about 42 percent of average, but rains during August increased the August monthly inflows to above average.

Pactola

Pactola Reservoir is currently at elevation 4,574.9 feet which is 5.3 feet from full. Inflows for the 2013 water year are 75 percent of average. Pactola releases are currently set at 75 cfs, but will be adjusted to around 18 cfs over the winter to coordinate with the Canyon Lake Dam reconstruction project.

Deerfield Reservoir

Deerfield Reservoir is at elevation 5,907.2 which is 0.8 feet from full. Inflows for the 2013 water year are 103 percent of average. The release from Deerfield Dam to Castle Creek will be 12 cfs through the fall until the winter release is set.

Note: The 2013 water year runs from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

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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