The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting on May 15 to present streamflow forecasts and projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake and other reservoirs of Reclamation's Minidoka and Palisades Projects. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Antler Inn Conference Room, 43 West Pearl Street, in Jackson, Wyoming.
Upper Snake River reservoirs were heavily utilized in 2007, and Jackson Lake began the 2008 water year much lower than projected in last year. Precipitation in 2008 has improved and forecast inflows are expected to overcome the water storage deficit, according to Mike Beus, Reclamation Water Operations Manager for the Upper Snake.
Flows immediately below the Jackson Lake Dam are not likely to increase until June. However, runoff from melting snow on tributary streams is likely to increase Snake River flows from Pacific Creek downstream. Weather in March was much cooler and wetter than last year, and April's cool temperatures kept much of the snowpack on the watershed.
The meeting facility is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Jami Andersen at (208) 678-0461, extension 22 at the Snake River Area Office in Burley, Idaho, for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other auxiliary aids.
More information regarding Reclamation programs can be found on the Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region website at: www.usbr.gov/pn. For current streamflows and reservoir elevations, click on the Hydromet link.
Jackson Lake Dam is located on the Snake River near Moran, Wyoming. The dam is part of the Minidoka Project and was originally constructed in 1911. It was later reconstructed in 1989 under authority of Reclamation's Safety of Dams Act.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
