News Release Archive

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte

Media Contact: Carlie Ronca, (307) 261-5671, cronca@usbr.gov

For Release: April 12, 2017

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. The April 1 forecast indicates the spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin will be above average.

"We anticipate we will be able to provide our North Platte Basin contractors with a full water supply this year," said Wyoming Area Manager, Carlie Ronca.

Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,065,000 acre-feet (af). The April through July expected runoff is comprised of approximately 775,000 af into Seminoe Reservoir, 160,000 af into Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and 130,000 af from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir. The anticipated 1,065,000 af is 118 percent of the 30-year average of 904,800 af.

The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir system as of March 31, 2017, is 2,336,713 af, which is 141 percent of the 30-year average of 1,653,500 af. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 af.

Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in May.

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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:

Wyoming Area Office Home Page