News Release Archive

Reclamation Effectively Manages Flood Operations During Spring Runoff Season

Media Contact: Emily Quinn, 303-445-2807, emquinn@usbr.gov

For Release: June 07, 2017

South Gates Spillway at Minidoka Dam & SpillwayDENVER - Some Reclamation facility operators are managing heightened levels of water runoff this year in light of especially wet winter and spring seasons. This is good news for Reclamation’s water deliveries with water allocations in most areas exceeding those of recent years.

With increased amounts of water due to rain and snowmelt, site operators are working strategically to mitigate flood risks while ensuring that surplus water supplies reach storage reservoirs to accommodate future water needs. Flood control operations are often a balancing act which must ultimately aim to implement plans that achieve the lowest impacts to environmental, agricultural, and recreational interests, while also ensuring public safety with regard to flood mitigation efforts.

Current flood operations at Reclamation facilities:

Mid-Pacific Region (Northern and Central California and Nevada):
Media Contact: Louis Moore, (916) 978-5102

The 2017 water year has topped the records as the wettest precipitation in California history with 93.3 inches of precipitation, or 198% of average.

The Mid-Pacific Region’s key facilities in California include: Shasta, Folsom, New Melones, and Friant dams – all of which are part of the Central Valley Project. These dams’ reservoirs currently have manageable storage conditions that cause no concerns for flood management of spring runoff.

The Lahontan Reservoir, located on the Carson River near Fallon, Nevada, is currently operating in flood conditions. Spring runoff into Lahontan Reservoir has hit record levels.

Upper Colorado Region (Utah, New Mexico):
Media Contact: Marlon Duke, (801) 524-3774

Reservoir managers in the Upper Colorado Region began operating earlier than normal this year to proactively manage reservoir levels and releases in preparation for higher-than-normal runoff supplies. Proactive adjustments to release volumes earlier in the season helped mitigate flood conditions downstream – even during peak reservoir inflows. Most basins in the region are currently at or past peak runoff, with the exception of Upper Green River Basin (above Flaming Gorge Reservoir).

The following Utah reservoirs are actively operating for flood control: Echo, Lost Creek, Pineview, Jordanelle, Starvation and Red Fleet. East Canyon Dam has also provided important flood control this season, and recently began releasing water over the spillway. Downstream flows are not expected to exceed safe channel capacity.

Great Plains Region (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming):
Media Contact: Tyler Johnson, (406) 247-7604

When flooding occurs, dam operators continuously analyze inflows, reservoir storage levels, impacts of flooding, and anticipated runoff volumes to ensure that public safety remains the top priority.

The following facilities are currently operating in flood conditions: Jamestown Dam in North Dakota, Yellowtail Dam in Montana and Boysen Dam in Wyoming.

Pacific Northwest Region (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington):
Media Contact: Michael Coffey, (208) 378-5020

Due to significant snowpack, precipitation and runoff this year, the Pacific Northwest Region is currently operating under flood control management plans within the following water systems:

Upper Snake System: Palisades, Jackson, Ririe and Littlewood dams
Boise River System: Anderson Ranch and Arrowrock dams
Payette System: Cascade and Deadwood dams
Yakima System: Cle Elum, Kachess, Keechelus, Bumping, and Rimrock dams
Columbia System: Grand Coulee Dam
Flathead System: Hungry Horse Dam

Lower Colorado Region (Southern California and Nevada, Arizona):
Media Contact: Rose Davis, (702) 293-8333

Currently, the Lower Colorado Region is not experiencing high flows, and therefore no LCR facilities are managing flood control operations at this time. The last time flood operations went into effect was in 1983.

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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.