MILLS, Wyoming - The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and in coordination with Willwood Workgroup 2, has scheduled a flushing flow in the Shoshone River downstream of Buffalo Bill Dam. The flushing flow will begin with rapidly increasing flows on April 7 and conclude on April 10. Willwood Irrigation District, in coordination with Willwood Workgroup 2, is planning a controlled elevated release of sediment from Willwood Dam on April 7. The purpose of the increased flows from Buffalo Bill Dam is to help protect the fishery by following the sediment release and mobilizing the sediment downstream. The sediment release and increased flow are being coordinated to minimize impacts to irrigators, recreators, and aquatic life in the Shoshone River.
The Bureau of Reclamation is able to retime operations and provide the flushing flow due to anticipated inflows to Buffalo Bill Reservoir, and the expectation of needing to pass excess water this spring. The flush will be accomplished without adversely impacting overall power generation at Buffalo Bill Dam or the expected water supply for irrigation.
Flows are expected to fluctuate in the Shoshone River near Cody, Wyoming according to the following schedule:
April 7
* 10 a.m. - Increase from approximately 800 cfs to 2000 cfs
* 12 p.m. - Increase to 3000 cfs
* 2 p.m. -Increase to 4000 cfs
April 8
* 2 p.m. - Decrease to 3500 cfs
April 10
* 2 p.m. - Decrease to 3000 cfs
* 4 p.m. - Decrease to 2500 cfs
* 6 p.m. - Decrease to 2000 cfs
* 8 p.m. - Decrease to 1500 cfs
* 10 p.m. - Decrease to approximately 1000 cfs and maintain
The schedule may be modified depending on river conditions.
Flows of 4,000 cfs or more in the Shoshone River below Buffalo Bill Dam are not unusual during peak summer snowmelt runoff periods in years of above average runoff. The flows will be high for this time of year, and the public is urged to use extreme caution during this period of flushing flows below Buffalo Bill Dam.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
