Bureau of Reclamation officials are adjusting water releases out of Flaming Gorge Dam from previously-announced target levels to alleviate potential flooding downstream of the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. These adjustments respond to projected rapid snowmelt runoff and increased flow estimates along the Yampa River. Water releases from the dam reached 6,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Friday, June 3, 2016, up from the previous level of approximately 800 cfs but down from the earlier target of 8,600 cfs. Releases will remain at 6,600 cfs until further notice.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is currently at approximately 91 percent of its capacity. Reclamation officials are closely monitoring upstream inflows, which are forecast to increase. May was a particularly wet month and the most recent forecast for spring
volume (April through July) increased significantly, from 770,000 acre feet to 1.06 million acre feet. Once Yampa River flows
begin dropping and flooding potential decreases, Flaming Gorge Dam may increase releases to 8,600 cfs in order to manage reservoir storage amid high spring inflows. Projected peak flow on the Green River at Jensen, Utah, resulting from the combined flows of the Yampa River and Flaming Gorge Dam releases, is approximately 20,000 to 23,000 cfs.

In addition to responding to high spring inflow into Flaming Gorge Reservoir, these releases align with the environmental adaptive management plan under the current Record of Decision, which governs operational decisions at the dam. Specifically, the increased flows are expected to assist the endangered razorback sucker fish, which began spawning in the Green River downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam late last month. Larval emergence in the river was observed on May 28, 2016.

Reclamation will continue monitoring downstream flowrates and will provide updates regarding future flows in the Yampa and Green Rivers. Flaming Gorge Reservoir information, including daily inflow and release rates, for the last 40 days can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/rsvrs/ops/crsp_40_fgd.html.