|
The Willwood Irrigation District, in coordination with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Wyoming Water Development Office, United States Geological Survey, and others, is planning a controlled release of sediment from Willwood Dam on Tuesday, April 9th. The sediment release will occur immediately before an April 9th to April 11th flushing flow of the Shoshone River downstream of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Turbidity levels in the Shoshone River downstream of Willwood Dam are expected to be elevated during the sediment release and will be closely monitored to ensure levels do not cause unacceptable effects to fish and other aquatic life.
The sediment release will pass naturally accumulated sediment to facilitate operations and maintenance at Willwood Dam. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department requested the flushing flow from the United States Bureau of Reclamation to help protect the fishery by transporting the released sediment downstream. The event is being coordinated to avoid impacts to infrastructure and minimize impacts to irrigators, fisherman, recreators, as well as aquatic life. Recreationists should be aware of the potential dangers related to flushing flows. Sportspersons wading or floating the river during this time should consider the fluctuating water levels. Areas that could be waded effectively before increases in flows may not be accessible at higher flows.
On Monday, April 8th, the United States Bureau of Reclamation plans to slightly increase releases from Buffalo Bill Reservoir to approximately 700 cfs to help facilitate the sediment release at Willwood Dam. On the morning of April 9th, a high-intensity, short-duration sediment release from Willwood Dam is planned. Concurrently with the sediment release, releases from Buffalo Bill Reservoir will be stepped up to 5,000 cfs by 2 PM, then reduced to 4,000 cfs at 4 PM and held at that level overnight. At 8 AM on Wednesday, April 10th, releases from Buffalo Bill will be decreased to 3,500 cfs until the afternoon of Thursday, April 11th when flows will be gradually reduced to 1,000 cfs.
Questions regarding this effort can be directed to David Waterstreet at 307-777-6709 or [email protected].
|
