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Northwest Region Boise, Idaho October 11, 2002 |
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Winter Operations of Reclamation Facilities in the Upper Snake
Winter releases of water below Bureau of Reclamation dams on the Snake River
will be similar to the winter of 2001/2002. With low carryover storage last
year and minimal improvement since then, Reclamation has worked cooperatively
with fishery and other environmental interest groups, irrigators, and federal
and state agencies to reach consensus regarding the balance of reservoir releases
between facilities of the upper Snake River system.
The primary objective of river operations is to meet irrigation demands of the contract spaceholders while filling as many competing needs as possible. Generally, this involves holding water in the most upstream reservoirs (Jackson Lake for example) and releasing only the necessary amount of water to serve other needs.
Initially winter releases below upper Snake River reservoirs are set as follows: American Falls Dam, 350 cubic feet per second (cfs); Palisades Dam, 1050 cfs; Jackson Lake Dam, 280 cfs; and Island Park Dam, 80 cfs. Flows below Ririe and Grassy Lake Dams are suspended through the winter every year.
“The operation agreed to by the contractors, interest groups and agencies is valid over a wide range of future conditions,” stated Stuart Stanger, Deputy Area Manager. “Only persistent wet weather would necessitate mid-winter increases in reservoir discharge.”
For further information regarding the upper Snake River winter operation, contact Mike Beus, Water Operations Manager, (208) 678-0461, ext. 27.
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