Reclamation Snowmelt Forecast for North Platte River Basin

MILLS, Wyo. - Reclamation's June forecast shows that spring runoff from mountain snowmelt in the North Platte River Basin above Glendo Dam is well below average this year.

From April through July, total runoff is expected to reach approximately 476,000 acre-feet (af), which is only 50% of the 30-year average. This includes about 244,000 af that already flowed into the system in April and May.

As of May 31, the North Platte Reservoir System held around 1.64 million af of water, which is 81% of the average for this time of year. The system's total conservation capacity is about 2.82 million af.

Current water releases:

• Seminoe Reservoir: (through Miracle Mile): 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) during the runoff season.
• Gray Reef Reservoir: Currently releasing 1,200 cfs, but flows are expected to peak near 3,300 cfs.
• Guernsey Reservoir: Currently releasing 0 cfs. Releases will be between 0 and 5,000 cfs and run through September as irrigation demand is met.
• Pathfinder Reservoir: No spill is expected this spring based on the current conditions.

Given the below-average natural-flows and current storage levels, an irrigation allocation was declared May 14, 2025. Despite the allocation, a near normal irrigation supply is anticipated for the year.

Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office operates seven reservoirs on the North Platte River with Seminoe Reservoir farthest upstream and Guernsey Reservoir farthest downstream. This system provides irrigation supply to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and produces power generation from six powerplants which supply power to tens of thousands of homes.