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News Release Archive
Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte River Basin
Media Contact:
Mahonri Williams, (307) 261-5624, mlwilliams@usbr.gov
For Release: May 09, 2017
MILLS, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., has prepared the May snowmelt runoff forecasts and operating plans for the North Platte River Basin. "We anticipate the North Platte Basin water contractors will have a full water supply this year," said Wyoming Area Manager, Carlie Ronca.
The May forecasts indicate the spring snowmelt runoff will be above average. Total April through July runoff in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 980,000 acre-feet (AF), of which approximately 205,500 AF was received in April. The anticipated 980,000 AF is 108 percent of the 30-year average.
As of April 30, 2017, storage content in the North Platte Reservoirs amounts to 2,426,523 AF, which is 138 percent of the 30-year average. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2.8 million AF.
Current releases are 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Seminoe Reservoir through the Miracle Mile, 2,500 cfs out of Gray Reef, and 3,600 cfs out of Guernsey Reservoir. Based on current projections, for the months of May, June, and July the releases out of Seminoe Reservoir are not expected to exceed 3,000 cfs, flows out of Gray Reef are expected to be in the range of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 cfs and releases from Guernsey will be in the 3,500 to 5,300 cfs range. Pathfinder Reservoir is not expected to spill this spring.
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