MILLS, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyo., has
prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the North Platte River Basin, according to Carlie Ronca,
Wyoming Area Manager. The April 1 forecast indicates the spring snowmelt runoff for the
North Platte Basin will be slightly above average.
"The snowmelt runoff forecast and system storage has improved since last month. We anticipate we will be able to provide our North Platte Basin contractors with a full water supply this year," Ronca said.
Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 890,000 acre feet (AF). The April through July expected runoff is comprised of approximately 680,000 AF into Seminoe Reservoir, 60,000 AF into Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and 150,000 AF from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir. The anticipated 890,000 AF is 102 percent of the 30 year average of 872,100 AF.
The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir System as of March 31, 2016 is 2,245,741 AF, which is 136 percent of the 30-year average of 1,651,100 AF. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 AF.
Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in May.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
