Snowmelt runoff expected to decrease
By Sandra Hansen
North Platte River irrigators are finding that the bright outlook for the 2010 growing season is beginning to dim. There are no major changes yet, but if the trend continues it might lead to summer problems.
North Platte River irrigators are finding that the bright outlook for the 2010 growing season is beginning to dim. There are no major changes yet, but if the trend continues it might lead to summer problems.
The overall forecast of the spring runoff is in the North Platte Basin is below average. The March 1 snowmelt runoff forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation office in Mills, Wyo., shows a slight drop in expectations for Seminoe Reservoir and from the Sweetwater River into Pathfinder Reservoir. However, a slight increase is predicted for the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam.
Total April through July runoff in the North Platte Basin above Glendo Dam is expected to be 710,000 acre-feet, or 80 percent of the 30-year-average. Approximately 590,000 acre-feet, or 84 percent of average, is expected to enter Seminoe Reservoir from the Sweetwater River. The balance of 90,000 acre feet (72 percent of average) is expected to come into the basin between Pathfinder and Glendo reservoirs.
In the Feb. 1 report, the Sweetwater River contribution Pathfinder Reservoir was 35,000 acre-feet, and 100,000 acre-feet were expected from the basin between Pathfinder and Glendo.
In the Feb. 1 report, the Sweetwater River contribution Pathfinder Reservoir was 35,000 acre-feet, and 100,000 acre-feet were expected from the basin between Pathfinder and Glendo.
Water storage for delivery to North Platte Project contractors is 753,551 acre-feet, or 130 percent of average, down slightly from the 132 percent or 713,435 acre-feet available in the Feb. 1 report.
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