MILLS, Wyoming — The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a series of fluctuating flows in the North Platte River downstream of Gray Reef Dam beginning March 20. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has requested fluctuating flows lasting for ten consecutive days to improve trout reproduction conditions in the river.
On March 20, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 450 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4000 cfs according to the following schedule:
HOURS GRAY REEF OUTFLOWS (cfs)
00:01 to 01:00 a.m. 450
01:00 to 03:00 a.m. 2,000
03:00 to 07:00 a.m. 4,000
07:00 to 08:00 a.m. 3,000
08:00 to 09:00 a.m. 2,000
09:00 to 10:00 a.m. 1,000
10:00 to midnight 450
This schedule will be repeated daily through March 29. The schedule may be modified depending on river ice or facility operational conditions. After completing the flushing flow on March 29, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to 450 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.
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