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 Feb. 1 forecast indicates the spring snowmelt runoff will be above average.
Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,120,000 acre feet (af) or 127 percent of the 30 year average of 883,900 af. Approximately 900,000 af (132% of average) of the runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir with an additional 90,000 af (180% of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and the balance of 130,000 af (97% of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir.
The total storage for the North Platte Reservoir System as of January 31 is 2,140,536 af, which is 139 percent of the 30-year average of 1,543,000 af. The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 af. The water in storage for delivery to North Platte Project contractors as of January 31 is 816,400 af or 154% of average.
Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in March, April, and May.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
