Spring Reservoir levels in Eastern Montana for Memorial Day weekend

BILLINGS, Montana - The Bureau of Reclamation announced that projected water levels and releases at most Reclamation-managed reservoirs in eastern Montana will be a mix of above and below average this Memorial Day weekend.

"Ongoing drought and low snowpack have impacted water levels at most facilities across the State." Said Montana Area Office Manager Ryan Newman. "Efforts to conserve storage will provide recreational opportunities at most facilities this Memorial Weekend even though we don't anticipate many reservoirs to reach full pool."

Reclamation encourages water-based recreationists to check for the most up-to-date water level conditions at Reclamation's website https://www.usbr.gov/gp/boat/index.html before heading to your favorite reservoir over this holiday weekend.

Current conditions at Reclamation facilities include:

• Clark Canyon Reservoir - Most boat ramps are usable. Storage has peaked for the year and is currently 16 feet below normal full pool level. The reservoir is expected to draft throughout the summer as releases are being made to meet irrigation demands.
  
• Canyon Ferry Reservoir - All boat ramps are currently usable. The reservoir level is 10 feet below the top of normal full pool and releases to the Missouri River below Holter Dam are below average, near 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), to conserve storage. The reservoir is not expected to fill this year.
  
• Gibson Reservoir - The boat ramp at Gibson Reservoir will be usable for Memorial Day weekend. Gibson Reservoir is near normal full pool.
  
• Lake Elwell (Tiber Reservoir) - All boat ramps are currently usable. The reservoir level is about 4 feet below normal full pool. The reservoir is not expected to fill to full pool level this summer. Releases to the Marias River are currently near 500 cfs.
  
• Fresno Reservoir - All boat ramps at Fresno Reservoir are currently usable. Storage has peaked for the year and the reservoir is currently 10 feet below normal full pool and is expected to draft through the end of the irrigation season. Releases to the Milk River will be near 900 cfs to meet irrigation demands.
  
• Nelson Reservoir - Boaters should be able to launch at all locations around Nelson Reservoir. Nelson Reservoir is approximately 6 feet below full pool which is below average for this time of year and is expected to draft throughout the summer.
  
• Bighorn Lake (Yellowtail Dam) - All boat ramps at Bighorn Lake are managed and maintained by National Park Service. Most boat ramps are usable with the exception of Horseshoe Bend. The reservoir level is about 25 feet below normal full pool, which is near average for this time of year. The reservoir is not expected to fill to full pool levels this summer. Releases to the Bighorn River are currently 1,580 cfs. More information can be found at the National Park Service's website https://www.nps.gov/bica/index.htm
  

Each year hundreds of lives are lost, thousands are injured, and millions of dollars of property damage occurs because of preventable recreational boating accidents on U.S. waterways. Too often recreation outings turn tragic. You - as a boat operator, passenger, or concerned individual - can make a difference. For more information about boating safety visit https://www.uscgboating.org.