Friends of the Bighorn River

For readers who are curious about the fate of the island across from Three Mile access, here's a photo I took yesterday.

This just arrived arrived from Reclamation:

"The BIA is planning to reduce diversions to the Bighorn Canal by 200 cfs to allow them to chemically treat the heavy algae growth in the Bighorn Canal. In response and continue slowing the rate of fill of storage in Bighorn Lake, the following operation change is required. Recent flow measurements also indicate river flows are actually higher than anticipated, resulting in a 0.0 shift. Releases to the Bighorn River will be gradually increased to near 12,600 cfs and maintained at rates necessary to maintain daily generation at Yellowtail powerplant near 250 MW-Hrs/day and the Afterbay level near elevation 3190."

In layman's terms, look for releases to increase in 50cfs increments to approximately 12,600cfs today. and then decrease in 50cfs increments back to 12,400cfs tomorrow.

A few scattered details are starting to emerge about yesterday's photo sent in by guide David Palmer.

The boat went down near the Snag Hole, just below Three Mile access. According to long time guide Bob Krumm, had guide Eric Wilcox not witnessed the incident and come quickly to the boaters aid, it was only a matter of seconds before they would have drowned. While exact details aren't clear yet, it is believed the occupants attempted to drop anchor in fast water and swamped the boat.  We are reminded of Krumm's two rescues in two days last year that both could have had catastrophic outcomes if not for some quick thinking and hard rowing.

It goes without saying that the Bighorn River is fortunate to have a cadre of guides that are not only talented and superb stewards of the river, but thoughtful and concerned citizens. Hat's off to these folks that go above and beyond an already tough job!

Guides are reminding folks to navigate your boat to stay well clear of hazards (including the bank), keep the bow of the boat pointed downstream especially in fast or rough water, and not drop anchor in fast and/or deep water.

Photo by D. Palmer

According Bighorn River guide David Palmer, this is at least the fourth boat to go down in four days.

Let's be careful out there!

Photo of the Afterbay at 12,500cfs.

BIA has requested a bit more water in the canal, so this release will be diverted from the river releases, dropping from 12,450cfs to 12,400cfs.

According to sources on and near the Bighorn River, two teenage anglers in a john boat entered the Bighorn Rapids yesterday but only their boat came out the bottom end. Apparently, the lads' boat swamped in the huge swells and sent the boys swimming. Both made it to shore in one piece, safely hitchhiked home, and were later seen celebrating their good fortune.

Guides on the river report Bighorn Rapids need special attention these days, and may not be recommended for low-sided boats. The standing waves and rollers come at the boat from all angles, so extreme caution is recommended. Novice oarsmen should remember to always keep the bow of the boat pointed downstream when entering rapids, and not let the boat travel faster than the current so as to ride the waves rather than hit them.  The higher flows are also creating obstructions in the river that may not have been present the day before. Again, novice oarsmen should keep the bow of the boat pointed directly at any obstructing or element they wish to avoid, so as to quickly and easily back row away from it.

For the latest information on fishing and river conditions, contact one of the many fine fly shops in the Ft. Smith area.

via Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

This just came from Reclamation:

"The BIA has requested an increase in diversions to the Bighorn Canal. Inflows into Bighorn Lake also continues to remain near 16,500 cfs. In response and continue slowing the rate of fill of storage in Bighorn Lake, the following operation change is required. Releases to the Bighorn River will be maintained near 12,450 cfs and maintained at rates necessary to maintain daily generation at Yellowtail powerplant near 250 MW-Hrs/day and the Afterbay level near elevation 3190."

It ain't over yet! Here's what just arrived from Reclamation:

"Recent precipitation, high elevation snowmelt runoff, and increased releases out of Boysen and Buffalo Bill Reservoirs have combined to maintain inflows to Bighorn Lake near 17,000 cfs. To slow the rate of fill of storage in Bighorn Lake, releases to the Bighorn River will be gradually increased to near 14,000 cfs and maintained at rates necessary to maintain daily generation at Yellowtail powerplant near 250 MW-Hrs/day and the Afterbay level near elevation 3190."

I'd appreciate anyone who's been on the river in the last few days to contact me, FWP or Reclamation with river, bank and habitat condition reports.

Note: The record river release of over 24,000cfs actually occurred just prior to the 1967 water year. However, the 1967 water year data is incomplete, so it is shown in 1967 for clarity.

Click here to view the graph full size.

Friends,

What many of us predicted has come to pass. This just arrived from Reclamation:

"High elevation snowmelt runoff and increased releases out of Boysen continue to maintain inflows to Bighorn Lake near 16,700 cfs. To slow the rate of fill of storage in Bighorn Lake, releases to the Bighorn River will be gradually increased to near 12,000 cfs and maintained at rates necessary to maintain daily generation at Yellowtail powerplant near 250 MW-Hrs/day and the Afterbay level near elevation 3190."

Starting at 6pm tonight, river releases will increase from 10,000cfs to approximately 11,000cfs.
At 10am on Sunday, river releases will increase from 11,000cfs to approximately 12,000cfs.

The lake elevation is currently three feet in to the flood pool, and rising.

For those of you that are wondering if releases have ever been this high, the answer is yes, but not very often.
In July 1967, river releases were well above 12,000cfs, and often topped  24,000cfs.
In July 1970, river releases exceeded  18,500cfs for several days.
In July 1995, releases topped 14,000cfs briefly and,
in July 1991, releases went over  12,000cfs for several days.

Let's be careful out there!

-Doug

"Afternoon thunderstorm activities, snowmelt runoff, and high releases out of Boysen and Buffalo Bill Reservoirs continue to maintain inflows to Bighorn Lake over 15,000 cfs. To slow the rate of fill of storage in Bighorn Lake, releases to the Bighorn River will be increased to near 10,000 cfs and maintained at rates necessary to maintain daily generation at Yellowtail powerplant near 250 MW-Hrs/day and the Afterbay level near elevation 3190."

Starting at 1pm today, releases to the river will increase from 9,500cfs to approximately 10,000cfs.

For those interested, the lake is currently just about a foot into the flood pool.