As the flow of water from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir and into the Shoshone River increases, Cody residents are asked to stay safe near the rushing water.
Every spring, snowmelt from the mountains flows into the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. To ensure that runoff is contained without damaging the reservoir, flushing flows occur downstream into the Shoshone River.
2021’s first flushing flow is scheduled to begin April 7 and continue – at varying intensities – until April 10.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released the following schedule for this week’s flushing flow.
April 7
- 10:00 a.m. – Increase from (approximately) 800 cubic feet per second (CFS) to 2000 CFS
- 12:00 p.m. – Increase to 3000 CFS
- 2:00 p.m. – Increase to 4000 CFS
April 8
- 2:00 p.m. Decreased to 3500 CFS
April 10
- 2:00 p.m. – Decrease to 3000 CFS
- 4:00 p.m. – Decrease to 2500 CFS
- 6:00 p.m. – Decrease to 2000 CFS
- 8:00 p.m. – Decrease to 1500 CFS
- 10:00 p.m. – Decrease to approximately 1000 CFS
A flow of 1000 cubic feet per second will be maintained from April 11 until further notice.
During peak runoff periods of snowmelt – usually during the summer – flows can stay consistently strong. The Shoshone River, right below the dam, typically flows at 4,000 CFS during summer.
As always, the flushing flows occur with no interruption to other water services. Power generation at the Buffalo Bill Dam and water irrigation throughout the basin will not be affected.
What will be affected are the risks associated with the rushing water. Everyone is asked to use “extreme caution” this week in and around the Shoshone River, particularly near the dam.
