MARCH 12, 2025|
Photo – North Platte River north of Alcove Reservoir – Courtesy WY G&F
The Bureau of Reclamation will begin a “flushing flow” north of Alcova Reservoir next week.
From Monday, March 17th, through Wednesday, March 26th, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, at the behest of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, will increase the water flow rate at the Gray Reef Dam.
Over the years, dams and other diversions along the North Platte River have caused sediment to build up on the riverbed. Wyoming Game and Fish Casper Region Public Information Specialist Janet Milek explained that the Bureau of Reclamation increases the water flow at the Gray Reef Dam to clear the sediments from trout spawning areas.
Game and Fish Biologist Matt Hahn explained that the flushing flow takes place around this time every year. Hahn said early spring was chosen to ensure the flushing occurs just before the peak trout spawning season.
For ten consecutive days, the Bureau of Reclamation will increase the flow from the Gray Reef Dam to eight times its normal rate. Fish Biologist Hahn said the flush begins in the middle of the night and finishes by the next morning. The process is repeated for all ten days.
Hahn said anglers at Gray Reef Dam are unlikely to detect the increased water flow since the flush occurs at night. However, people fishing in Casper will notice the river rising by midafternoon.
Given the direction the water flows along the North Platte River, anglers in areas south of the Gray Reef Dam, such as Saratoga, will not be affected by the flushing flow. However, Casper Region Public Information Specialist Janet Milek warned people travelling to the Alcova Reservoir to be aware of the rising water levels.
In Saratoga, the spring snow melt effectively clears sediment from the North Platte River. Manmade structures, such as the Alcova Reservoir, do not benefit from the same natural processes and must be manually flushed.
The Gray Reef Dam flushing flow is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 17th, and last until Wednesday, March 26th.
