May 14, 2024 |
Photo – Miracle Mile below Seminoe Dam – Bigfoot99 file photo
The river forecasts for May in Wyoming indicate the spring snowmelt runoff will be average to slightly below average.
Total April through July runoff in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 854,000 acre-feet, which is 90% of the 30-year average. Approximately 152,000 af of runoff was received in April.
The total conservation storage capacity of the North Platte Reservoir System is approximately 2,815,800 af. As of April 30, 2024, the combined storage content in the North Platte Reservoirs was 2,038,215 af, which is 111% of the 30-year average.
Current releases are 2,600 cubic feet per second from Seminoe Reservoir through the Miracle Mile. Releases out of Gray Reef Reservoir are 1,500 cfs. Glendo and Guernsey Reservoir releases are meeting irrigation demand. Based on current projections, the releases out of Seminoe Reservoir are expected to peak at around 2,600 cfs in May and June, while flows out of Gray Reef are expected to be in the range of approximately 1,000 to 2,600 cfs. Releases from Guernsey will be in the 2,000 to 5,000 cfs range. Pathfinder Reservoir is not expected to spill this spring.
Based on the current forecast, Bureau of Reclamation reports that an allocation is not expected for North Platte Project contractors this spring.
