Great Plains Region Newsroom Channel

Reclamation Begins Work on Snake Creek Pumping Plant: Audubon Lake Levels to be Affected

BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is deviating from normal pumping operations of Audubon Lake to allow work on Snake Creek Pumping Plant. The pumping plant is located about six miles northwest of Coleharbor, North Dakota, in McLean County.

Reclamation has awarded a contract to replace the Snake Creek Pumping Plant brick walls and roof, and work is expected to continue from May 2013 to January 2014.

"This construction activity will leave the pumping plant inoperable after the initial spring pumping," said Dakotas Area Office Manager Richard Long. "The brick walls and roof replacement is critical to assure the pumping plant retains its integrity into the future."

Reclamation began pumping water into Audubon Lake May 14, and will continue filling the lake to an elevation of approximately 1847.2. It is anticipated the initial spring pumping will conclude by May 25. Once the lake reaches this elevation, Reclamation will discontinue pumping water into Audubon Lake for the duration of work on the pumping plant.

Based on average water loss and evaporation, and estimated water deliveries through McClusky Canal, Reclamation anticipates Audubon Lake will recede to elevation 1845.2 by Sept. 2. Normal pumping operations will resume in 2014.

For more information, please contact Patience Hurley at 701-221-1204, or phurley@usbr.gov.

Reclamation Awards Goose Bay Marina Interim Contract

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded an interim concession contract for operation of the Goose Bay Marina at Canyon Ferry Reservoir to Gerald and Muriel Reller of Townsend, Mont. The visitor services will be in place through September 30, 2013.

"We look forward to working with the Rellers to provide a quality experience at Goose Bay Marina, while work continues on the Goose Bay modernization planning effort," said Montana Area Manager Brent Esplin.

The interim contract requires that basic visitor services such as sale of gasoline and boat supplies, boat docking, camping facilities, concession sundries, and dump station services be provided. Additionally, boat and RV storage are authorized services.

For additional information, please contact Paula Holwegner at 406-247-7300.

Canyon Ferry Campground Information

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation invites you to experience the abundance of recreational opportunities available on your public lands around Canyon Ferry Reservoir. To enhance the experience for all visitors, campground regulations have been established through 43 CFR Part 423.

Campground fees will begin Friday, May 10, 2013. Campsites cannot be reserved, and must be occupied each night until the date of departure. Abandoned personal property will be addressed in accordance with 43 CFR Part 423.23.

Overnight Camping Fees:

Chinamen's, Jo Bonner, Hellgate, and White Earth Campgrounds are $10.00 per night with one sleeping unit per campsite.

Court Sheriff and Riverside Campgrounds are $15.00 per night with one sleeping unit per campsite. Campers who possess a Golden Age or Golden Access card or the Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass will receive a 50 percent discount on camping fees.

Campgrounds operated by Reclamation that are undeveloped or have dispersed camping are open and free to the public.

Group Use Shelter Reservations:

Group Use Shelter Reservations are available and shelters can be reserved by calling 406-475-3920.

Reservation request forms, 2013 shelter use fees, and additional information can be obtained by calling the Canyon Ferry Field Office at 406-475-3920. The reservation request form can also be found at: http://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/canyonferry/index.html.

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Runoff Forecast for Bighorn River Basin

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Reclamation's May forecast for the April through July runoff for the Bighorn Basin is as follows:

Buffalo Bill Reservoir – Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 550,000 acre-feet (af), which is 82 percent of the 30 year average of 669,000 af. Approximately 26,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill during April, leaving 524,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.
Wind River – April through July snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 310,000 af, which is 77 percent of the 30 year average of 404,000 af. Approximately 24,000 af of the forecasted amount was received during April, leaving 286,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.
Bull Lake Reservoir – April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 120,000 af, which is 86 percent of the 30 year average of 140,000 af. Approximately 3,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Bull Lake during April, leaving 117,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.
Boysen Reservoir – Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 375,000 af, which is 67 percent of the 30 year average of 562,000 af. Approximately 33,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Boysen Reservoir during April, leaving 342,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.
Bighorn River – April through July inflow to Bighorn Lake is forecast at 678,000 af, which is 62 percent of the 30 year average of 1,098,000 af. Approximately 99,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Bighorn Lake during April, leaving 579,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover 1 acre (43,560 square feet) 1 foot deep (325,851 gallons or 1,233.5 cubic meters).

For additional information on Buffalo Bill, Boysen and Bull Lake reservoirs, contact Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith Jr., 307-261-5676.

For additional information on Yellowtail Reservoir, contact Montana Area Manager Brent Esplin, 406-247-7298.

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the North Platte River Basin. According to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith, the May 1 forecast indicates below average spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin.

April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 518,000 acre feet (AF) or 55 percent of the 30-year average of 944,600 AF. Approximately 450,000 AF (60 percent of average) of runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir (of which 50,000 AF was received in April) with an additional 18,000 AF (30 percent of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River (of which 6,500 AF was received April), and the balance of 50,000 AF (37 percent of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir (of which 14,900 AF was received in April).

The water in storage for delivery to North Platte Contractors as of April 30, 2013 is 349,400 AF or 45 percent of average.

Smith said, "Reclamation is advising North Platte Project water users that an allocation is expected. With reservoir storage well below average and below average inflow forecasted for April through July, water users will need to take measures to conserve the available water supply."

With the current forecast, river flows throughout the system are expected to be much less than average.

Reclamation issues NEPA documents for Big Horn and Hanover Irrigation District Contract Renewals

MILLS, Wyo. -- Reclamation has announced the release of the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Big Horn Canal Irrigation District and Hanover Irrigation District Water Service Contract Renewals.

According to Environmental Specialist Laurie Schwieger, Reclamation prepared the EA/FONSI to evaluate the environmental effects of renewing the water service contracts.

"Renewing the contracts will only result in administrative or financial changes to the contracts," Schwieger said.

The public may view the EA/FONSI at Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located at 705 Pendell Blvd., Mills, Wyo.

Inquiries for additional information may be submitted to Reclamation at the following address: Wyoming Area Office, P.O. Box 1630, Mills, Wyo., 82644-1630.

Reclamation to Increase Releases from Fresno Dam

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing releases from Fresno Dam to the Milk River beginning Wednesday, April 17. Releases will be stepped-up from the current rate of 50 cubic feet per second (cfs) to approximately 300 cfs over the next week. The increases are to control the rate-of-fill of Fresno Reservoir.

"Inflows to Fresno were averaging approximately 630 cfs over the past 4 days," said Steve Davies, Reclamation's Montana Area Office Operations and Maintenance Division Manager. "Further adjustments to releases during the next few weeks are likely depending on downstream river conditions."

Milk River recreationists are cautioned to be aware of changing reservoir levels at Fresno Reservoir, as well as stage changes that may occur on the river.

Fresno Dam, located on the Milk River 14 miles west of Havre, Mont., is a compacted earthfill dam with a structural height of 110 feet and a crest length of 2,070 feet. It contains 2,105,000 cubic yards of material. An overflow-type spillway at the north end of the dam provides for a flow of 51,360 cubic feet per second through the concrete-lined channel. The outlet works discharge a maximum of 2,180 cubic feet per second through two 72-inch steel pipe outlet tubes. A conservation storage of 127,200 acre-feet is impounded in Fresno Reservoir. Provision also is made for flood control benefits.

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Runoff Forecast for Bighorn River Basin

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Reclamation's April forecast for the April through July runoff for the Bighorn Basin is as follows:

Buffalo Bill Reservoir - Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 525,000 acre-feet (af), which is 79 percent of the 30 year average of 669,000 af.
Wind River - April through July snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 300,000 af, which is 74 percent of the 30 year average of 404,000 af.
Bull Lake Reservoir - April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 110,000 af, which is 79 percent of the 30 year average of 140,000 af.
Boysen Reservoir - Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 350,000 af, which is 62 percent of the 30 year average of 562,000 af.
Bighorn Lake - Bighorn River April through July inflow to Bighorn Lake is forecast at 661,000 af, which is 60 percent of the 30 year average of 1,098,000 af.

An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover 1 acre (43,560 square feet) 1 foot deep (325,851 gallons or 1,233.5 cubic meters).

For additional information on Buffalo Bill, Boysen and Bull Lake reservoirs, contact Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith Jr., 307-261-5676.

For additional information on Yellowtail Reservoir, contact Montana Area Manager Brent Esplin, 406-247-7298.

Reclamation Releases Compact Water as ordered by NE DNR

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is responding to the order from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by directing the release of more than 13,000 acre-feet (af) of water from four federally managed reservoirs. The Release Order includes releases from Swanson Lake (3,232 af), Enders Reservoir (452 af), Hugh Butler Lake (1,984 af) and Harry Strunk Lake (7,548 af), totaling approximately 13,200 af. The releases started Tuesday morning and will continue at a reasonable rate of flow so that releases are completed by April 30.

In an effort to ensure Nebraska's compliance with the Republican River Compact, Nebraska DNR issued an order on January 1, 2013, putting in effect a Compact Call Year as defined by the current Natural Resource Districts Integrated Management Plans (IMPs). As a result, Nebraska DNR issued Closing Notices on Reclamation's reservoirs in the Republican River Basin prohibiting the storage of surface water flows until further notice. Reclamation has been working with Nebraska DNR to assist them in offsetting the projected shortfall associated with the IMPs.

"Reclamation follows Nebraska state law as it relates to water management," said Nebraska-Kansas Area Manager Aaron Thompson. "We are working toward releasing water in the most reasonable manner to meet the order from the Nebraska Director of Natural Resources."

Reclamation has been working with Nebraska since January to help them be in compliance, proposing two options: having the Army Corps of Engineers frontload water from Harlan County Lake (HCL) sediment pool to offset Nebraska's expected 2013 overuse of their Compact allocation, or having Nebraska Bostwick Irrigation District frontload water supply from their 2012 storage water to the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, which would offset Nebraska's forecasted shortfall. Both of these proposals have been rejected by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, which moved forward requiring releases from Reclamation reservoirs.

Republican River water is allocated to the States of Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas through the Republican River Compact the three states agreed to, and which was approved by Congress in 1943.

Yellowtail Dam/Bighorn Lake Spring/Summer Operations Meeting

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation will present information about water supply conditions in the Bighorn Basin and discuss proposed spring/summer operating plans for Yellowtail Dam/Bighorn Lake at a public meeting on Thursday, April 4, starting at 7 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the MSU-Billings Downtown Conference Room, located at 2804 3rd Avenue North, Billings, Mont.

Stakeholders and interested parties in both Montana and Wyoming are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in the discussions.

For additional information, please contact Paula Holwegner of the Montana Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, at 406-247-7300.

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office has prepared snowmelt runoff forecasts for the North Platte River Basin. According to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith, the April 1 forecast indicates below average spring snowmelt runoff for the North Platte Basin.

April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 250,000 acre feet (AF) or 26 percent of the 30-year-average of 944,600 AF. Approximately 210,000 AF (28 percent of average) of runoff is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir with an additional 20,000 AF (34 percent of average) being provided to Pathfinder Reservoir from the Sweetwater River, and the balance of 20,000 AF (15 percent of average) coming from the basin between Pathfinder Reservoir and Glendo Reservoir.

The water in storage for delivery to North Platte Project contractors as of Mar. 31st, is 299,500 AF or 44 percent of average.

With the current forecast, river flows throughout the system are expected to be much less than average and below last year's flows. Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in May.

Reclamation to Host Public Meeting on North Platte Water Operations

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a North Platte River Water Information Meeting in Scottsbluff, Neb.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m., on Thursday, April 11, at the Scottsbluff Panhandle Station Auditorium, Scottsbluff, Neb. The meeting is being held to apprise water users and other interested parties of the reservoir storage and current water supply conditions. Information regarding snowmelt runoff and expected reservoir operations for water year 2013 will be presented.

For additional information contact Mahonri Williams at (307) 261-5624 or mlwilliams@usbr.gov.

Alcova Reservoir Water Level to Rise

Mills, Wyo. -- The annual filling of Alcova Reservoir will begin on Monday, Apr. 1, according to Wyoming Area Manager, Coleman Smith.

During April, the reservoir will rise approximately 10 feet to the summer irrigation operating level. The rate of rise will average approximately 5 inches per day. Upon reaching the summer irrigation operating level, the reservoir will remain at elevation 5498 plus or minus 1 foot until October 1. "This increase in reservoir level will be completed by May 1 to allow deliveries to the Casper-Alcova Irrigation District Canal," Smith said.

Recreationists and reservoir users are advised to take proper precautions associated with the rising reservoir level.

Routine Siren Testing at Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel and Plant

LOVELAND, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation will test warning sirens at the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel and Treatment Plant on March 27, between 1 and 3 p.m.

"The sirens and emergency warning system are periodically tested as part of Reclamation's routine maintenance program," said Jenelle Ortiz, Plant Supervisor. "These systems were installed to enhance notification of the Village of East Fork residents in the unlikely event of an emergency."

For more information, please call Kara Lamb at (970) 962-4326 or e-mail klamb@usbr.gov.

Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam

Mills, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of, and in collaboration with, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGF), has scheduled a series of fluctuating flows in the North Platte River downstream of Gray Reef Dam. The purpose of the fluctuations is to improve trout reproduction in the river, according to Coleman Smith, Wyoming Area Manager.

Smith said, "In the past, the spring flushing flows have occurred during five consecutive weekdays. This spring, the Wyoming Game & Fish has requested a duration of 10 consecutive days and the schedule will include two weekends. The Wyoming Game & Fish will collect data before, during, and after the flushing flow in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the longer duration flush".

On March 18-19, The Bureau of Reclamation will evacuate Gray Reef Reservoir to facilitate inspection of the radial gates. Although river flows will remain at the current rate of 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) during this reservoir operation, some fine sediment will be introduced from Gray Reef Reservoir into the North Platte River. Following the gate inspection, Gray Reef Reservoir will be refilled to the normal operating level.

On March 22, 2013, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 500 cfs to 4000 cfs according to the following schedule:

HOURS	GRAY REEF OUTFLOWS (cfs)
00:01 to 01:00 a.m.	500
01:00 to 03:00 a.m.	2000
03:00 to 06:30 a.m.	4000
06:30 to 08:00 a.m.	3000
08:00 to 09:00 a.m.	2000
09:00 to 10:00 a.m.	1000
10:00 to midnight	500

This schedule will be repeated daily on March 23 through March 31. After completing the flushing flow on March 31, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to 500 cfs.

The flushing flows are expected to clean the spawning gravels of fine sediment which has accumulated over the winter. The fluctuations in the river flow will be achieved without loss of power generation and the water released from Alcova Reservoir will be restored downstream in Glendo Reservoir.

The public is urged to use caution during this period of rapid fluctuation of flows below Gray Reef Dam.