News Release Archive

Bighorn River Basin Snowmelt Runoff Forecast

Media Contact: John Lawson, (307) 261-5671, jlawson@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: June 03, 2005

The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyoming, has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the Shoshone and Wind Rivers of the Bighorn River Basin, according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager. The June 1, forecast of the spring snowmelt runoff is below average in the upper Wind and Shoshone River drainages, but average to above average in the Boysen and Bull Lake drainage.

The Bighorn Basin forecast indicates inflows from the Shoshone River to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period will be 485,000 acre-feet (AF) (73% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 662,600 AF. Of this amount 205,000 AF was received in April and May, leaving 280,000 AF forecasted for June through July.

The Wind River portion of the Bighorn River Basin April through July inflow forecast includes the snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 161,000 AF (115% of average), of which 46,000 AF was received in April and May; and the snowmelt runoff in the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 384,000 AF (92% of average), of which 144,000 AF was received in April and May. The expected inflows to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period are 577,000 AF (101% of average), of which 227,000 AF was received in April and May, leaving 350,000 AF of runoff forecasted for June through July.

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Relevant Link:

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Wyoming Area Office Home Page