News Release Archive

Jackson Lake Dam Operations Informational Meeting Set

Media Contact: Annette Ross, (208) 378-5322, aross@usbr.gov
Roland Springer, rspringer@usbr.gov

For Release: May 06, 2014

HEYBURN, Idaho – The Bureau of Reclamation will host an information meeting for the public to present streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake Dam and other Snake River reservoirs on May 15. The meeting will be held at the Antler Inn Conference Room, 43 West Pearl Street, in Jackson, Wyo., beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Snow accumulation above Jackson Lake Dam has been above average since February and the April 1 forecast for snowmelt runoff was 135 percent of normal. Although Jackson Lake storage was 35 percent of capacity on May 1 due to the drought in 2013, it is expected that Jackson Lake will fill in mid-June.

"Nearly 550,000 acre-feet of reservoir space in Jackson Lake Dam is available," said Mike Beus, Reclamation Water Operations manager. "That should be enough space to control releases from the dam and successfully fill Jackson Lake. The runoff volume predicted this year is near the capacity of our entire system, but flood flows immediately below Jackson Lake are unlikely. Further downstream, Palisades discharge is unlikely to exceed flood stage at Heise, although minor localized flooding may occur."

The meeting facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Don Bowden at (208) 678-0461, ext. 13 for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other auxiliary aids.

Current river and reservoir data is available at: www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet or for more information regarding Reclamation programs, visit Reclamation’s Pacific Northwest Region website at: www.usbr.gov/pn.

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

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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:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet

http://www.usbr.gov/pn