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Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte
Media Contact:
Coleman Smith, (307) 261-5671, cwsmith@usbr.gov
For Release: May 08, 2014
MILLS, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the North Platte River Basin. According to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith, the May 1 forecast indicates the spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin will be about 32 percent above average.
Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,170,000 acre feet (AF) or 132 percent of the 30 year average of 887,700 AF. Approximately 900,000 AF (127 percent of average) of the runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir (of which 137 AF was received in April) with an additional 50,000 AF (92 percent of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River (of which 10,800 AF was received in April), and the balance of 220,000 AF (177 percent of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir (of which 90,400 AF was received in April).
The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir System as of April 30 is 1,487,600 AF, which is 83 percent of the 30-year average of 1,786,400 AF. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 AF. The water in storage for delivery to North Platte Project contractors as of April 30 is 462,700 AF or 62 percent of average.
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