The Wyoming Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in Mills, Wyoming, will be lowering the water level in Guernsey Reservoir in preparation for the annual silt run according to John H. Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager. The silt run is an operation which provides silt-laden water to Goshen, Gering-Fort Laramie, and Pathfinder Irrigation Districts under contract with Reclamation.

On July 6, 2005, the release of water from Glendo Reservoir will be decreased from approximately 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to a flow of approximately 2,000 cfs. The decreased flow will cause a rapid decline of the Guernsey Reservoir level of approximately 25 feet during the period of July 6th through July 10th. On Thursday, July 7, 2005, the boat ramps on Guernsey Reservoir will no longer be usable due to the low reservoir level. Water being released from Glendo Reservoir will flow through Guernsey Reservoir, flushing silt from Guernsey Reservoir into the canals of downstream irrigators. The silt run will begin on July 11th and is anticipated to continue through July 30th. Beginning on July 30th, the release of water from Glendo Reservoir will be rapidly increased to refill Guernsey Reservoir to a level suitable for recreation by August 5, 2005.

Boaters, recreationists, and irrigators should take proper precautions regarding changing river flows between Glendo and Guernsey Reservoirs and the rapid lowering and refilling of Guernsey Reservoir.