Yellowstone River Compact Commission Technical Committee Discussions Sheridan County Courthouse...
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Transcript of Yellowstone River Compact Commission Technical Committee Discussions Sheridan County Courthouse...
Yellowstone River Compact CommissionTechnical Committee Discussions
Sheridan County CourthouseSheridan, WYApril 24, 2007
Bighorn Reservoir operations and long term management discussions
RECLAMATIONManaging Water in the West
Draft Problem Statement
• “The amount, timing, and location of water available in the Big Horn River system to support all required and desired uses including, but not limited to, tribal obligations, recreation, aquatic organisms, power generation, and irrigation is limited and variable. Our challenge is to take a new look at all uses and needs, while recognizing commitments to authorized project purposes and other legal obligations—including water rights.”
Draft Group Charter
• “The Big Horn River System Long-Term Coordinating Group has been formed to identify, explore, and recommend alternative courses of action to the federal and state agencies responsible for managing Big Horn River and Big Horn Reservoir resources for their consideration as part of long-term management strategies.”
Yellowtail Unit
• Authorization: Flood Control Act of Dec. 22, 1944 (ch.665 Stat. 887)
Senate Document 191—USACE/Reclamation plan for Missouri River Basin Development
• Project Purposes
– Flood Control – Hydropower – Irrigation – Recreation– Fish & Wildlife– Sediment storage
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Authorization: Public Law 89-664, October 15, 1966
Purpose
“In order to provide for public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of the proposed Yellowtail Reservoir and lands adjacent thereto in the States of Wyoming and Montana by the people of the United States….”
OPERATIONS - A BALANCING ACT AMONG THE AUTHORIZED
PURPOSES OF THE YELLOWTAIL UNIT and the AUTHORIZED
PURPOSES OF THE BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION
AREA
Administration of the Yellowtail Unit and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation
Area
Memorandum of Agreements between Reclamation and the Park Service:
December 1964 (signed by the Secretary)
Updated March 1972
Operating Requirements & Objectives
• Mandatory /Legal – Recognize all Senior Downstream Water Rights– Fulfill Compact obligation with Native American Tribes– Meet Contract Commitments for Stored Water – Dam Safety
• Operating Objectives– Maximize Power Generation Benefit– Maintain Storage Space for Flood Control – Maintain desired Lake levels for Recreation, Reservoir
Fishery and Waterfowl– Maintain desired River Flow levels for the River Fishery and
water quality
Bighorn Lake Inflow DistributionBased on 1967-2006 Data
Bighorn River Accretions less Depletions (Gain)
30%
Buffalo Bill
Release
28%
Boysen
Release
42%
Annual Total
Bighorn Lake Inflows2000-2006 Drought vs 1934-1940 Drought
1777
1348
10301208
1042
1848
1433
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Years
1,00
0 ac
re-f
eet 2000-2006
1934-1940
30 Year Avg
2000-2006 Avg
1934-1940 Avg
Annual Volume of Water Required to Meet River
Targets vs Drought Supply
1928
1566
1204
311
1384
1030
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2500 cfs 2000 cfs 1500 cfs Storage 00-06 Avg 2004
1000
acr
e-fe
et
MULTIPURPOSE OBJECTIVESElevations Targets
• Sept – Oct: A Desired Lake Elevation of 3635 provides space for late summer and fall rainstorms, recreation enhancement and wildlife habitat
• March: Position Lake Level between 3605 and 3615 to provide good fall and winter generation, prepare reservoir for spring runoff and provide desired fishery flows. This also increases probability of raising pool during Walleye Spawning
• July: Fill reservoir to normal full level of 3640 to provide good water supply for all water uses while leaving adequate space to control summer and fall rain events.
MULTIPURPOSE OBJECTIVESDesired River Operating Range
• 1,500 cfs – Approximate discharge to provide “firm” power generation as identified in DPR and provide minimum target flow for river fishery. Provide more then adequate water for downstream irrigation demands. Protects Reservoir storage in low runoff years except for the period of 2002 - 2004
• 4,500 cfs – Provides optimum power generation (allows full peaking) while providing more then adequate water conditions for river fishery and irrigation needs
BIGHORN LAKEBIGHORN LAKE ELEVATION
3570.00
3575.00
3580.00
3585.00
3590.00
3595.00
3600.00
3605.00
3610.00
3615.00
3620.00
3625.00
3630.00
3635.00
3640.00
3645.00
Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07 Jan-08 Feb-08 Mar-08
Ele
vati
on
in F
eet
Most Probable
Sto
rag
e in
KA
F
Ok-A-Beh & Barry's Landing Minimum Boat Launch Elevation
Horseshoe Bend Minimum Boat Launch Elevation
Target Range for Flood Control
594.3
1137.5
1070.0
959.5
873.6
836.7
803.2
772.9
744.6
717.6
691.5
666.3
641.7
617.7
914.2
1011.0
Top of Joint-Use Conservation - 3640.00 (1,070.0 kaf)