News Release Archive

Reclamation to Increase Water Storage in Jackson Lake, Wyoming

Media Contact: Diana Cross, (208) 378-5020, dcross@pn.usbr.gov
Mike Beus, mbeus@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 28, 2005

Water managers with the Bureau of Reclamation will begin reducing the flow below Jackson Lake Dam from the present rate of 2,000 cubic feet per second to 1700 cfs on July 5, 2005. Additional reductions in flow may be necessary later in the summer.

Because the weather has been cool and wet this spring, Jackson Lake now holds about 25 percent more water than had been anticipated when the 2,000 cfs release rate was announced in May. Cool and wet weather has also reduced the need for irrigation water from downstream reservoirs. Palisades Reservoir now holds more than twice as much water as it did last year at this time. The total of upper Snake River reservoir storage is more than 150 percent of earlier projections. A common water management objective is to keep water upstream.

"Ideally, Jackson Lake would hold a major share of the unanticipated water at the end of the season," explained Mike Beus, Reclamation's Water Operations Manager for the Snake River. "The scheduled changes are a step toward that ideal. However, recreation and natural resources in the river must be considered at the same time."

The reduced flows, which are closer to the natural flow of the river, will extend the boating season on Jackson Lake and increase the chances of filling the lake next year, but provide less benefit to kayakers and rafters on the river.

In May, Reclamation announced a plan to release 2,000 of water through Jackson Lake Dam for most of the 2005 summer season. Reclamation also promised to provide advance notice if the discharge changed more than five percent. Flows will be reduced by approximately 100 cfs each day starting on July 5. A final small adjustment on July 8 may be necessary to achieve the target flow of 1700 cfs.

Reclamation will watch Jackson Lake inflow and tributary flows for opportunities to make additional reductions in flow later in the summer. Feedback from interested parties is welcomed to supplement river and lake data.

Jackson Lake Dam, a feature of Reclamation's Minidoka Project, provides irrigation, recreation, flood control, and fish and wildlife benefits to citizens of eastern Idaho and western Wyoming.

# # #

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.