News Release Archive

Reclamation Increases Releases From Hyrum Dam For Flood Control

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix, 801-524-3837, dhendrix@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: April 28, 2005

Salt Lake City, UT - Because of high run-off resulting from spring snow melt and recent storm conditions, Reclamation has increased flows from Hyrum Dam into the Little Bear River from 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,200 cfs for flood control purposes.

The spring runoff inflows from the Little Bear River into Hyrum Reservoir are at the highest level since the mid 1980s - as this area has been subject to consecutive years of drought. The increased releases from Hyrum Dam were made to accommodate a significant jump in the inflow to the reservoir due to recent storms in the drainage.

Reclamation cautions people living in agricultural and residential areas near the Little Bear River, downstream of the dam, that additional precipitation could further impact the situation and that higher releases could become necessary. Hyrum Dam, completed in 1935, is a rolled earth and rockfill structure. Significant safety-of-dam modifications were completed to the dam's spillway during the Summer/Fall of 2004.

Reclamation has advised Utah emergency management agencies and personnel, as well as the various county and local authorities.

The Hyrum Project in Northern Utah includes as its principal construction features Hyrum Dam, Reservoir and Spillway. The reservoir and associated canal system stores and diverts water from the Little Bear River to furnish supplemental water supplies to 6,800 acres of privately owned and cultivated project lands in the Hyrum and Wellsville areas.

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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.