The detrimental impact of a warm February is already showing in the mountains, as Wyoming snowpack declines but runoff predictions for reservoirs stay stable.
(Bighorn River Basin, Wyoming) The Bureau of Reclamation has released their June forecast of the April through July runoff prediction.
Although inflows into Buffalo Bill Reservoir have been normal so far this season, the snowpack in the watershed has mostly melted and the inflows for the remainder of the summer are expected to be below average. Buffalo Bill Reservoir is not expected to fill completely. Bull Lake and Boysen Reservoirs are experiencing similar runoff scenarios but are expected to fill or come close to filling.
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âReclamation reservoirs in the Bighorn Basin are being operated to store inflows and manage releases to ensure water contractors will have a full water supply throughout the irrigation season,â said Wyoming Area Manager, Carlie Ronca.