MILLS, Wyo. - The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation has prepared the May snowmelt runoff forecasts and operating plans for the North Platte River Basin.
The April forecasts indicate the spring snowmelt runoff will be above average. Total April through July runoff in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 1,002,000 acre-feet (af), which is 110% of the 30-year average.
The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 af. As of April 30, 2020, the combined storage content in the North Platte Reservoirs was 2,273,800 af, which is 129% of the 30-year average.
Current releases are 2,350 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Seminoe Reservoir through the Miracle Mile. Releases out of Gray Reef Reservoir are 2,500 cfs. Releases out of Guernsey Reservoir are 3,000 cfs. Based on current projections for the months of May, June, and July, the releases out of Seminoe Reservoir are expected to have already peaked at 3,200 cfs, while flows out of Gray Reef are expected to be in the range of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cfs. Releases from Guernsey will be in the 3,000 to 5,200 cfs range. Pathfinder Reservoir is not expected to spill this spring.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
