Friends of the Bighorn River

Although most of the state of Montana's runoff looks to be close to normal, the Bighorn Basin is shaping up to be one of the worst runoff seasons on record.

It is almost a certainty that flows to the Bighorn River will be at or below minimums for the foreseeable future, and that lake elevation will peak much, much lower than the last half dozen years.

River interests are advised to plan for low flows on the Bighorn this year unless some significant period of precipitation should develop.

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Rehabilitation of the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam began in September 2011 with work focused on the radial gates and radial gate bays. The contractors, Moltz Constructors Inc. and Engineering & Construction Innovations, will be performing similar work on the sluice gates and sluice gate bays beginning the week of May 14.

The sluice gate work is expected to take 8 to 12 weeks to complete. During this time, public access to the sluiceway stilling basin on the south abutment of the Afterbay Dam will be restricted. Vehicular access across the Afterbay Dam to the Bighorn River launch site will not be impacted.

"Releases to the Bighorn River will be maintained through the five radial gates while the work on the sluice gates is occurring," said Chris Gomer, Project Engineer with Reclamation's Montana Area Office. "No fluctuations in releases to the river are anticipated as a result of the work," Gomer added.

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

BILLINGS, Mont. -- As of May 1, the Bureau of Reclamation's forecast of April through July runoff predicted for the Shoshone, Wind, and Bighorn River Basins is as follows:

• Buffalo Bill Reservoir - Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 570,000 acre-feet, which is 84 percent of the 30-year average of 679,000 acre-feet. Approximately 85,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill Reservoir during April, leaving 485,000 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 290,000 acre-feet, which is 70 percent of the 30-year average of 412,000 acre-feet. Approximately 40,000 AF of the forecasted amount was received during April, leaving 250,000 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 100,000 acre-feet, which is 71 percent of the 30-year average of 141,000 acre-feet. Approximately 8,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Bull Lake during April, leaving 92,000 AF of inflow forecasted for May through July.
• Boysen Reservoir - Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 250,000 acre-feet, which is 44 percent of the 30-year average of 574,000 acre-feet. Approximately 52,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Boysen Reservoir during April, leaving 198,000 AF of inflow forecasted for May through July.
• Bighorn Lake (Yellowtail Reservoir) - April through July inflow to Yellowtail Reservoir is forecast at 750,000 acre-feet, which is 66 percent of the 30-year average of 1,138,500 AF. Approximately 150,000 AF of the forecasted amount flowed into Yellowtail Reservoir during April, leaving 600,000 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 W. Smith, Jr., at 307-261-5671.

For additional information on Yellowtail Reservoir, contact Montana Area Manager, Dan Jewell, at 406-247-7298.

The WYAO uses the most recent 30-year period, 1982 to 2011, to determine averages. For more information on snowmelt forecasts and real-time data, please visit the Great Plains Region's Water Operations web site at: www.usbr.gov/gp/lakes_reservoirs.

Snowpack for the Bighorn basin has plummeted to 61 percent of average overall, and runoff continues to look bleak. At our request along with FWP, last week we asked Reclamation to 1) please follow the rule curves which mandate a reduction in releases based on the inflow forecast and 2) reduce releases now to prevent further future reductions. They have complied.

Just a heads up.... Its still early, but the extended inflow forecasts are looking pretty bleak. With the Wind River drainage reporting less than 50% snowpack and the Bighorn Basin around 70% and dropping, we could not only have a somewhat pathetic runoff, but worse, have it early. From a water perspective, this makes for a long summer.

Two issues have arisen that deserve attention. First, the BIA has requested that diversions to the Bighorn Canal begin next week. Second, revised inflow forecasts are starting to trend towards a drier April. Therefore, following the rule curves prescribed in the draft operating criteria, river releases will be reduced to 2,500cfs. It is worth noting that this is the second unannounced drop in river releases that has occurred within 48 hours after either a conference call or an issues group meeting this spring.

Bureau of Reclamation to Provide Flushing Flow below Yellowtail Dam

BILLINGS, MONT.  -- The Bureau of Reclamation will provide a flushing flow to the Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam beginning Monday, April 9.  The flushing flow is being coordinated with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks as part of a multi-year study aimed at restoring historic side channels and fish habitat in the Bighorn River.

The flushing flow is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 9, and be completed by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 12.  During the flush, flows in the Bighorn River will be stepped-up incrementally from the current flow of 2,880 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) to a maximum of about 7,000 cfs and held at that rate for approximately 12 hours before stepping incrementally back down. The maximum flow of 7,000 cfs is expected to occur on Tuesday, April 10 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.  During the flushing flow, the river stage is expected to vary by approximately 2 feet.

River recreationists are advised to exercise extra caution throughout the duration of the flush.      

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

The flushing flow of 7,000cfs that is needed to complete a geomorphic analysis of side-channels is still tentatively scheduled for April 9.

Watch this site in the coming days for additional details.

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 at a public meeting on Thursday, April 5.

The meeting will be held in the MSU-Billings Downtown Conference Room, located at 2804 3rd Avenue North, Billings, Mont., starting at 7 p.m.

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.

The Bureau of Reclamation, at the request of, and in collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGF), has scheduled a flushing flow in the Big Horn River downstream of Boysen Dam, according to Acting Wyoming Area Manager, Lyle D. Myler.

The purpose of the flushing flow is to improve trout reproduction by flushing fine sediments from spawning gravels in the river. The flushing flow also improves insect production in the stream by opening up interstitial spaces between gravels and cobbles. The flushing flow is generally welcomed by anglers because it provides easier wading conditions. Following the flushing flow there is a reduction in floating algae.

Flows in the river below Boysen Dam will fluctuate from 950 cfs to 5000 cfs during the flushing flow. On March 27 at 2:00 a.m., the release of water from Boysen Dam will be increased to 2300 cfs and further increased to 5000 cfs at approximately 7:00 a.m. for 10 hours before being reduced gradually back to 950 cfs by approximately 4:00 a.m. on March 28, 2012.

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

During this week's conference call with Reclamation, stakeholders were told that the April through July inflows forecast predicts a somewhat higher inflow forecast than the previous month and that river releases would remain at 3,130cfs. However, notice of a slight reduction was just received late this afternoon from Reclamation: 

Steve Davies, Facilities Operations and Maintenance Division at the Montana Area Office or Reclamation just sent out this alert:

Good afternoon to everyone:

As you know, Reclamation has a contractor working at the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam to recoat all of the metal gates at the dam.  The contractor has been utilizing a large barge platform and three support boats immediately upstream side of the dam to accomplish this work.  Early this morning high winds and subsequent wave action capsized two of the boats and damaged the barge and the third boat.  Efforts are underway, as onsite conditions allow, to stabilize and remove the damaged craft.  No injuries or fluid spills have been reported. 

We have notified downstream emergency management officials as well as the Crow Tribe and BIA, and will keep you apprised of any changes or new developments.

Please call me if you have any questions or concerns, thanks.

Steve Davies, Manager
Facilities Operations and Maintenance Division
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Montana Area Office
Office:  406-247-7307
Cell:  406-855-1446
sdavies@usbr.gov

Watch this site for additional updates.