2019 Upper Snake River Operations Update Jackson Lake Dam
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(Monday July 8, 2019) Subject: 2019 Upper Snake River Operations Update Purpose: The purpose of these Operation Updates is to provide information regarding Reclamation's operations as the season progresses. The operations outlined in this update are based on the best data available at the time and are subject to change as new information becomes available. For additional information and resources, please visit our website at: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/uppersnake/ . Jackson Lake Dam Current Discharge = 3,100 cfs. Today (7/8) discharge will decrease to approximately 2,300 cfs. Palisades Dam Current Discharge = 15,300 cfs. This afternoon at 2 pm (7/8) discharge will decrease to approximately 14,300 cfs. Tonight (7/8) discharge will decrease to approximately 13,300 cfs. Milner Dam Current Discharge = 3,500 cfs. Thursday morning (7/11) discharge will decrease to 2,500 cfs. Friday morning (7/12) discharge will decrease to 1,500 cfs. Summary The Upper Snake reservoir system is currently 91% full (3,661,459 acre-feet out of 4,045,695 acre-feet). From June 30th to July 6th unregulated inflow above Heise, ID, measured 109% of average. System inflows are receding at a moderate pace and outflows from the reservoirs in the system will be governed by natural flow and storage flow deliveries from this week until the late fall months when outflows will be adjusted down to winter flows in the October timeframe. Jackson Lake’s discharge is being decreased today to the target summer flow from Jackson Lake Dam. The flow may be adjusted slightly during the summer months to target reaching a storage of approximately 577,000 acre-feet by October 1st. Palisades’ discharge is being decreased today to maintain high storage content in Palisades Reservoir and deliver only flow necessary for irrigation deliveries. Smaller decreases may be made later this week once today’s decreases and the decreasing flows from the Henrys Fork settle out in the Blackfoot reach of the Snake River in the next 3 days. Island Park’s discharge is anticipated to increase a little this week to supply storage water. Ririe’s discharge will be adjusted down from the current 90 cfs to approximately 60 cfs early this week. The reservoir will stay near full the rest of the summer until the fall months arrive and the reservoir is lowered going into the winter season. Milner Dam’s discharge is currently 3,500 cfs. The decrease to 2,500 cfs on Thursday and another decrease to 1,500 cfs on Friday is the beginning of the transition from flow augmentation delivery to storage water delivery for Idaho Power. Flow augmentation is anticipated to finish mid-week next week. Storage delivery for Idaho Power is anticipated to last into approximately mid-August. Once storage delivery to Idaho Power is complete flow by Milner will again go to 0 cfs. Reservoir levels, reservoir discharge and river flows can be monitored on the USBR Hydromet page here: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/ The Upper Snake “teacup” diagram which provides a graphical overview of system conditions can be accessed here: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/burtea.html .