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RECLAMATION. Managing Water in the West. Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake Water Supply & Operations Meeting Billings, Montana October 9, 2008. Purpose of Meeting. Public outreach / education regarding Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake Recap operations during water year 2008
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RECLAMATION Managing Water in the West Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake Water Supply & Operations Meeting Billings, Montana October 9, 2008
Purpose of Meeting • Public outreach / education regarding Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake • Recap operations during water year 2008 • Present operation scenarios for fall / winter 2008-2009 • Obtain feedback / comment from public & interested parties
Meeting Agenda 6:00 pm Doors open 6:30 pm Introductions, Welcome, and Meeting Objectives 6:40 pm Recap of Water Year 2008 7:15 pm Fall & Winter Reservoir Operation Scenarios 8:00 pm Facilitated Public Discussion 8:30 pm Adjourn
The Montana Area Office is responsible for managing the water supplies and administering Reclamation programs for Reclamation projects located in Montana east of the continental divide.
The Montana Area Office monitors hydrologic and climatic conditions, prepares inflow projections and operation plans, and directs water releases and lake level management at Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake.
Yellowtail Dam and Bighorn Lake Spillway Inlet Bighorn Lake Visitor Center Powerplant
Yellowtail Dam, Bighorn Lake and Afterbay Yellowtail Afterbay Dam Substation Visitor Center Yellowtail Dam
Yellowtail Afterbay Dam and Afterbay Sewage Lagoons Afterbay Sluice Gates Afterbay Dam Bighorn Canal Radial Gates
Bighorn Reservoir Allocations Dam Crest Maximum Water Surface or Top of Surcharge Elev. 3660.00 (1,381,189 Acre-Feet) Elev. 3660.0 SURCHARGE - 52,829 Acre-Feet Top of Exclusive Flood Elev. 3657.00 (1,328,360 AF) EXCLUSIVE FLOOD CONTROL - 258,331 Acre-Feet Top of Joint Use Elev. 3640.00 (1,070,029 Acre-Feet) JOINT USE - 240,342 Acre-Feet Top of Active Conservation Elev. 3614.00 (829,687 Acre-Feet) Spillway crest Elev. 3593.00 ACTIVE CONSERVATION - 336,103 Acre-Feet FISH WILDLIFE RECREATION AGRICULTURE POWER MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIAL Top of Inactive Elev. 3547.00 (493,584 Acre-Feet) Powerplant Penstock Elev. 3450.00 INACTIVE CONSERVATION - 477,576 Acre-Feet Irrigation Outlet Elev. 3400.00 River Outlet Elev. 3300.0 Top of Dead Elev. 3296.50 (16,008 Acre-Feet) DEAD - 16,008 Acre-Feet Streambed Elev. 3166.0
Bighorn Gain 30% Buffalo Bill Release 28% Boysen Release 42% Bighorn Lake Annual Inflow Distribution (based on 1967-2005 data)
Recap of Water Year 2008 • Mountain Snowpack • Precipitation • Inflow to Bighorn Lake • Bighorn River Releases • Bighorn Lake Storage Conditions
Recap of Water Year 2008 Peaked on 5/5 @ 110% of average
Recap of Water Year 2008 2008 Annual Inflow = 2,132.7 kaf (90% of average) Historic Average Inflow = 2,372.7 kaf
Recap of Water Year 2008 2008 April-July Inflow = 1,298.3 kaf (117% of average) Historic Average Inflow = 1,192.8 kaf
Recap of Water Year 2008 April-July Inflow – 1,298.3 kaf (117% of average) Annual Inflow – 2,132.7 kaf (90% of average) Oct-March Inflow – 520.6 kaf (57% of average) 10/07 Oct-Mar Forecast – 493.9 kaf (54% of average)
Recap of Water Year 2008 Average River Release = 2,728 cfs (87% of average) 2000-2007 Average River Release = 1,922 cfs Historic Average River Release = 3,135 cfs
Recap of Water Year 2008 Peaked on 7/13 at 3642.50 feet Ended year at 0.2 feet below full pool Ended year 10.3 feet higher than in 2007
Summary of Water Year 2008 • Water year started out with good precipitation – October well above average but dropped to well below average during November. • Fall & winter releases were scheduled and maintained at 1,900 cfs. • Mountain precipitation above average during December-March. Precipitation dropped to below average in April but well above average in May. • October-March inflows were 57% of average totaling 520.6 kaf. • April-July inflows were 117% of average totaling 1,298.3 kaf. • On May 6 releases were reduced to 1,500 cfs to conserve storage. • Bighorn Lake reached a low level at elevation 3607.54 on May 8. • Bighorn Lake rose nearly 35 feet from May 8 to June 13, reaching a peak elevation of 3642.50. • Record rains began around May 21 and continued into early June. The rain accompanying the mountain snowmelt caused inflows to reach a peak of 14,130 cfs on May 24. • On May 24 releases were gradually increased from 1,500 cfs to nearly 9,700 cfs by June 18. • By the middle of July, releases were reduced from 6,200 cfs to 3,000 cfs and to 2,500 cfs by August 1. Releases are currently 2,700 cfs. • Since June 13, storage has slowly declined to elevation 3640 by August 12 and has essentially remained full until present. • Annual inflows were 90% of average totaling 2,132.7 kaf. • Storage in Bighorn Lake ended the water year at elevation 3639.8 which is 0.2 foot below full.
Bighorn Lake Conditions(as of October 1, 2008) Elevation 3639.82 ft = 0.18 feet below full pool Storage 1,067,800 af = 100% full Inflows = 2,550 cfs Total Outflow = 2,700 cfs River = 2,700 cfs Canal = 0 cfs
Boysen Reservoir Conditions(as of October 1, 2008) Elevation 4718.88 ft = 6.12 feet below full pool Storage 628,800 af = 85% full Inflows = 550 cfs Total Outflow = 700 cfs
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Conditions(as of October 1, 2008) Elevation 5372.30 ft = 21.20 feet below full pool Storage 484,400 af = 75% full Inflows = 275 cfs Total Outflow = 1,740 cfs River = 1,290 cfs Heart Mtn. Canal = 450
Water Supply Forecasts • Fall forecasts rely heavily upon statistical information and analysis • Reclamation monitors snow pack data each month from mid-October through May • By about February 1 snow pack becomes a major factor • Monthly plans are adjusted as needed based on snow data & anticipated normal spring precipitation • Significant changes to operation plans may be needed
Bighorn Lake Inflow Forecast – Water Year 2009 10/08 Oct-Mar Forecast – 674.2 kaf (74% of average)
Bighorn Lake Inflow Forecast – Water Year 2009 10/08 Oct-Mar Forecast – 674.2 kaf (74% of average) 2008 Actual Oct-Mar Inflows – 520.6 kaf (57% of average)
Bighorn Lake Operation Scenarios Most Probable Inflow • October – March Inflow forecast at 674.2 kaf (74% of average) • Maintain fall and winter release at 2,500 cfs through March • Reservoir level expected to drop to elevation 3618 by the end of March (typical flood control target is 3605 to 3614). • Power generation during October – March would total 351.0 GWHrs.
Bighorn Lake Operation Scenarios Minimum Probable Inflow • October – March Inflow forecast at 629.8 kaf (69% of average) • Maintain fall and winter release at 2,500 cfs through March • Reservoir level expected to drop to elevation 3613 by the end of March (typical flood control target is 3605 to 3614). • Generation during October – March would total 347.0 GWHrs.
Bighorn Lake Operation Scenarios Maximum Probable Inflow • October – March Inflow forecast at 747.8 kaf (82% of average) • Maintain fall and winter release at 2,500 cfs through March • Reservoir level expected to drop to elevation 3628 by the end of March (typical flood control target is 3605 to 3614). • Generation during October – March would total 353.3 GWHrs.
Question: What is the effect of a release rate other than 2500 cfs ?Response: We looked at the most probable runoff condition with release rates of 2400, 2500, and 2600 cfs.
