Citizen     Business     Government     Visitor
   
     
     
 

Environmental Water Use: Minimum Reservoir Releases

 

Reservoirs and their associated dams affect aquatic and riparian environments along their tail waters. Variable flows, low flows, and the loss of spring time flushing flows can have negative effects on aquatic environments below reservoirs. Minimum reservoir releases are used within the Platte River Basin to benefit downstream aquatic and riparian habitats.

Within the Above Pathfinder subbasin minimum release requirements have been placed on Kortes Dam. Information regarding Kortes Dam minimum releases is summarized in the following table. Click here to view a map of the locations of all five Platte River Basin minimum reservoir release sites.

Summary - Minimum Reservoir Releases, Above Pathfinder Subbasin

Name
Owner
Minimum reservoir release (cubic feet per second)
Applicable regulation
Kortes Dam U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
500
U.S. Public Law 92-146 (85 Statute 414), Missouri Basin project.
 
 


The Platte River Basin Plan is a planning tool developed for the Wyoming Water Development Office. It presents estimated current and estimated future uses of water in WyomingÆs Platte River Basin. The Plan is not used to determine compliance with or administration of state law, federal law, court decrees, interstate compacts, or interstate agreements.
Wyoming Water Development Commission
6920 Yellowtail Road
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Ph. (307) 777-7626
Fax (307) 777-6819