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Snowmelt Runoff Forecast - Bighorn River Basin

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

For Release: June 03, 2003

Great Plains Water Supply ReportsThe 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 snow melt runoff is below normal for all areas.

The Bighorn Basin forecast indicates inflows from the Shoshone River to Buffalo Bill Reservoir during the April through July period will be 540,000 acre-feet (AF) (79% of average), compared to a 30-year average of 680,000 AF. Of this amount 242,000 AF was received in April and May, leaving 298,000 AF of runoff 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 110,000 AF (78% of average), of which 30,000 AF was received in April and May, and the snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek, which is expected to be 310,000 AF (73% of average) of which 108,000 AF was received in April and May. The expected inflows to Boysen Reservoir for the April through July period are 240,000 AF (40% of average), of which 108,000 AF was received in April and May leaving 132,000 AF of runoff forecasted for June through July.

With Boysen Reservoir storage near record low and only 40% of average inflow forecasted for April through July of this year, water users will need to take measures to conserve the available water supply.

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