Green River Basin at 87% of average for water outlook
Rest of Wyoming close to 100%
March 30, 2008
General Water Outlook (March 2008)
Generally, the snow water equivalent (SWE) across Wyoming is slightly below average for this time of the year at 99% of average for early March. Precipitation for last month in the basins varied from 92% of average to 162% of average for the State. Year-to-date precipitation is above average for the year and varies from 82-124% of average in the basins. Forecasted runoff varies from 65-178% of average across Wyoming for an overall average of 98%. Basin reservoir levels for Wyoming vary from 30-208% of average for an overall average of 80%.
Snowpack (March 2008)
Snow water equivalent (SWE), across Wyoming is slightly below average for this time of year at 99%. SWE in the NW portion of Wyoming is now about 99% of average (127% of last year). NE Wyoming SWE is currently about 99% of average (115% of last year). The SE portion of Wyoming SWE is currently about 107% of average (127% of last year).
Streams (March 2008)
Stream flow yield is expected to be below average across Wyoming. Most probable yield for the entire State of Wyoming is forecast to be 98% (varying from 65-124% of average). Yields for the Little Snake, Green River, and Little Bear of Wyoming are expected to be 124, 71 and 94% of average respectively -- yield estimates vary from 67-124% of average.
Reservoirs (March 2008)
Reservoir storage varies across the state however reservoir storage is at 80% of average for the entire state. Reservoirs on the North Platte River are well below average at 48% of average. Most of the reservoirs in the northeast are below average in storage at 59. Reservoirs in the Wind River Basin are below average at 70%. Reservoirs on the Big Horn are below average at 88%. The Buffalo Bill Reservoir on the Shoshone is above average at 111%. Reservoirs on the Green River are above average at 102%.
Upper Green River Basin
Snow
Snow water equivalent (SWE) is below average in the Upper Green River drainage this year. The Green River Basin SWE above Warren Bridge is at 84% (121% of last year). SWE on the west side of the Upper Green River Basin is about 89% of average (121% of last year). Newfork River Basin SWE is now about 80% of average (115% of last year). Big Sandy-Eden Valley Basin is at 78% or 114% of last year. SWE in the Green River Basin above Fontenelle Reservoir is about 87% of average (120% of last year).
Precipitation
The 12 reporting precipitation sites in the basin were 103% of average last month (120% of last year). Last months precipitation varied from 77-128% of average. Water year-to-date precipitation is about 97% of average (119% of last year). Year to date percentage of average ranges from 81-133% for the reporting stations.
Reservoir
Storage in Big Sandy Reservoir is 11,100 ac-ft or 29% of capacity. This is 58% of average. Eden Reservoir - No Report. Fontenelle Reservoir is 111,400 ac-ft or 32% of capacity; 71% of average. This is 70% of average for the Upper Green River basin.
Streamflow
The 50% exceedance forecasts for the April through July runoff period in the Upper Green River Basin are forecast below average. The yield on the Green River at Warren Bridge is around 225,000 ac-ft (85% of average). Pine Creek above Fremont Lake is 90,000 ac-ft (87% of average). New Fork River near Big Piney is 315,000 ac-ft (80% of average). Fontenelle Reservoir Inflow is estimated to be 665,000 ac-ft (77% of average), and Big Sandy near Farson is expected to be around 48,000 ac-ft (83% of average).
Wyoming SNOTEL (Snow Depth) Data
Map of Wyoming SnoTel Sites Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Blind Bull (Wyoming Range): 87.2/7.3 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=353&state=wy
Triple Peak (Wyoming Range): 95/7.9 feet (3/28/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=831&state=wy
Gros Ventre Summit (Gros Ventre Range: 58.5/4.9 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=506&state=wy
Kendall Ranger Station (Upper Green River Valley): 49.1/4.1 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=555&state=wy
New Fork Lake (Northern Wind River Range): 38.9/3.2 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=661&state=wy
Big Sandy Opening (Southern Wind River Range): 55.4/4.6 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=342&state=wy
Deer Park (Southern Wind River Range): 50.7/4.2 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=923&state=wy
South Pass (Southern Wind River Range): 56.4/4.7 feet (3/30/08 data)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/snotel.pl?sitenum=775&state=wy
Wyoming Watershed Status:
Wyoming Basin Outlook Reports
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/snowpack/snowmap.html (March 2008)
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/snowpack/2008Mar/2008Mar.pdf
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