Bighorn Lake/Yellowtail Dam Operations November 12, 2014

Water Year 2014 Review

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Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Snow

Wat

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Mountain Snowpack

Average 2014 2013

109%

128%

134%

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Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Prec

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Bighorn River Basin Precipitation

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

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Lake

Ele

vatio

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Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

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Lake

Ele

vatio

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Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

2014 April-July Forecasts & Rule Curve Targets

Apr-Jul Rule Curve Date Forecast % of Avg Min Elev. Date Jan. 1 1,143,200 107% 3613.3 5/06 Feb. 1 1,140,000 107% 3613.3 5/06 Mar. 1 1,646,700 154% 3606.8 5/16 April 1 1,960,800 183% 3600.4 5/18 May 1 1,952,400 183% 3603.8 5/18 June 1 1,633,384 153% 3619.2 6/01 Actual 1,724,900 161%

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

(cfs

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Lake

Ele

vatio

n (fe

et)

Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Rule Curve Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

(cfs

)

Lake

Ele

vatio

n (fe

et)

Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

0

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

(cfs

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Lake

Ele

vatio

n (fe

et)

Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

3618.7’

3602.4’

3640.0’ 3641.8’

8,470 cfs 6,160 cfs

6,000 cfs

8,500 cfs

7,000 cfs

2,660 cfs 2,500 cfs

13,780 cfs

1,500 cfs

4,500 cfs

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Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14

Flow

(cfs

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Lake

Ele

vatio

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et)

Bighorn Lake Operations 2014

Elevation Inflow River Release

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

Water Year 2015 Fall and Winter Outlook

Elevation 3637.5 - 2.5 feet below full pool 2.9 feet lower than last year Storage 989,700 acre-feet: 111% of average 97% full Inflows 2,200 cfs Outflow 3,000 cfs

Conditions on November 1, 2014

November through March Gains and Release

April-October Gain = 320,800 acre-feet Calculated November-March Gain = 268,900 acre-feet Upstream Reservoir Fall & Winter Releases = Boysen = 940 cfs Buffalo Bill = 365 cfs End-of-October Storage = 989,700 acre-feet Projected End-of-March Target Elevation = 3617 Calculated Fall & Winter Release for Yellowtail: River = 2,880 cfs

November through March Gains and Release

April-October Gain = 320,800 acre-feet Calculated November-March Gain = 268,900 acre-feet Upstream Reservoir Fall & Winter Releases = Boysen = 940 cfs Buffalo Bill = 365 cfs End-of-October Storage = 989,700 acre-feet Projected End-of-March Target Elevation = 3619 Calculated Fall & Winter Release for Yellowtail: River = 2,830 cfs

November Monthly Operating Plans

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Riv

er F

low

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Approximate Powerplant Capacity

3590

3595

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3645

Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15

Elev

atio

n (fe

et)

Most Probable Inflow Operations

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

3590

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3645

Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15

Elev

atio

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et)

Most and Minimum Probable Inflow Operations

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

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Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15

Riv

er F

low

(cfs

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Approximate Powerplant Capacity

3590

3595

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3605

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3645

Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15

Elev

atio

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et)

Most and Maximum Probable Inflow Operations

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

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Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15

Riv

er F

low

(cfs

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Approximate Powerplant Capacity

3590

3595

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3605

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3625

3630

3635

3640

3645

Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15

Elev

atio

n (fe

et)

Most, Minimum, and Maximum Probable Inflow Operations

Top of Joint Use: Elevation 3640.0 feet (1,020.6 kaf)

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Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15

Riv

er F

low

(cfs

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Approximate Powerplant Capacity

www.usbr.gov/gp/lakes_reservoirs/wareprts/main_menu.html

• near real-time data available through the HYDROMET data system

• summaries and plots of historical data • annual reservoir operating plan publication • monthly water supply reports • project data • snow plots • links to related internet sites

Reclamation’s Internet Website

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