Reclamation issues snowmelt forecast for Bighorn River Basin

BILLINGS – The Bureau of Reclamation’s March forecast of the April through July water runoff predicted for the Big Horn River Basin is as follows:
Big Horn Lake – Big Horn River April through July inflow to Big Horn Lake is forecast to be approximately 852,000 acre-feet (af), which is 67% of the 30-year average of 1,264,000 af.  As of March 1, Big Horn Lake was 84% full.
Buffalo Bill Reservoir -- Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 560,000 af, which is 74% of the 30-year average of 754,000 af. As of March 1, Buffalo Bill was 74% full.
Boysen Reservoir -- Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 620,000 af, which is 99% of the 30-year average of 625,000 af. As of March 1, Boysen Reservoir was 84% full.
Bull Lake Reservoir -- April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 150,000 af, which is 103% of the 30-year average of 146,000 af. As of March 1, Bull Lake Reservoir was 47% full.
A reservoir is considered “full” when the pool elevation is at the top of the active conservation or joint-use pool. The percentage is based on total reservoir volume below that level. 
For additional information on Buffalo Bill, Boysen and Bull Lake Reservoirs, contact Wyoming Area Manager Lyle Myler at 307-261-5671. For additional information on Big Horn Lake, contact Montana Area Manager Ryan Newman at 406-247-7298.
Snow report
The March 18 snow report issued by the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows that snow pack levels are improving across Wyoming. Statewide, SNOTEL sites are reading 99% of median compared to 121% at the same time last year and 86% in 2022.
Locally, the Big Horn River drainage basin is showing 89 percent of median as of March 18, up from 84 percent on March 11, and the Wind River drainage basin was at 110% of median, up from 104% a week earlier.
The Yellowstone drainage basin dropped slightly from 82% to 81% over the past week, and the Shoshone River basin fell from 95% of median to 92%.