MILLS, Wyo. – Reclamation’s May forecast shows that spring runoff from mountain snowmelt in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam will be well below average this year.
From April through July, total runoff is expected to reach approximately 467,000 acre-feet, which is only 50% of the 30-year average. This includes about 91,500 acre-feet that already flowed into the system in April.
As of April 30, the North Platte Reservoir System held around 1.65 million acre-feet of water, which is 89% of the average for this time of year. The system's total conservation capacity is about 2.82 million acre-feet.
Current water releases:
- Seminoe Reservoir: (through Miracle Mile): has peaked at 2,600 cubic feet per second (cfs).
- Gray Reef Reservoir: currently releasing 2,600 cfs, but flows are expected to peak near 3,300 cfs.
- Guernsey Reservoir: Releases will be between 1,600 and 5,000 cfs and run through September as we meet irrigation demand.
Pathfinder Reservoir: No spill is expected this spring based on the current conditions.
Given the below-average runoff and current storage levels, an irrigation allocation is likely for North Platte Project contractors this year.
Reclamation’s Wyoming Area Office operates seven reservoirs on the North Platte River with Seminoe Reservoir farthest upstream and Guernsey Reservoir farthest downstream. This system provides irrigation supply to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and produces power generation from six powerplants which supply power to tens of thousands of homes.
