BuRec set to increase releases above Yellowtail Dam Tuesday

At the request of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a flushing flow will be provided on the Bighorn River below Boysen Dam, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.  The flushing flow is designed to flush fine sediments from the spawning gravels in the Big Horn River below Boysen Dam. 

Releases from Boysen Reservoir

March 30, 2010

0200 hours - Increase the release from Boysen Dam from the current release of approximately 700 cfs to 3,000cfs

0700 hours - Increase the release from Boysen Dam from approximately 3,000 cfs to 5,000 cfs.

1700 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 5,000 cfs to 3,000 cfs.

2000 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 3,000 cfs to 2,700 cfs.

2200 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 2,700 cfs to 2,450 cfs.

2400 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 2,450 cfs to 2,200 cfs.

March 31, 2010

0200 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 2,200 cfs to 1,950 cfs.

0400 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 1,950 cfs to 1,700 cfs.

0600 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 1,700 cfs to 1,450 cfs.

0800 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 1,450 cfs to 1,200 cfs.

1000 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 1,200 cfs to 950 cfs.

1200 hours - Decrease the release from approximately 950 cfs to 700 cfs.  Maintain the release of 700 cfs until further notice.

The monthly Big Horn Lake water supply outlook and projected reservoir and river operating plans prepared in October were released this week by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Storage in Big Horn Lake as of Oct. 1 was 104 percent of average and 0.74
feet below the top of the joint-use pool. It was also 3.23 feet lower than on Sept. 1.

Based on stream flow accretions accompanied by the planned releases out of Boysen and Buffalo Bill Reservoirs, the water supply forecast prepared in October indicates the October inflow to Big Horn Lake to be about 88 percent of average, according to Reservoir and River Operations Manager Tim H. Felchle.

Click here to read the full October report.