News Release
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Wyoming District
Release date Internet location of release July 05, 2000 http://wy.water.usgs.gov/news/html/070500.htm Contact Address District Chief 2617 E. Lincolnway, Ste. B Surface-Water Specialist Cheyenne, WY 82001-5662 Public Information Officer E-mail Phone Fax state_rep_wy@usgs.gov (307)778-2931 (307)778-2764
Data in this release are preliminary. Final data will be published in the yearly publication, WATER RESOURCES DATA, WYOMING
NOTES TO EDITOR: (1) ft3/sec is an abbreviation for cubic feet per second which is the rate of discharge representing a volume of a cubic foot of water passing a given point during one second and is equivalent to 7.48 gallons per second or 448.8 gallons per minute.
JUNE MONTHLY STREAMFLOWS BELOW NORMAL AROUND WYOMING
Average monthly discharges for June ranged from less than normal to much less than normal at four U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in Wyoming. Streamflow at one station in northwestern Wyoming (South Fork Shoshone River) was 80 percent of the 30-year average. Streamflows at stations in other parts of Wyoming were much below normal, ranging from 60 percent to 39 percent of the 30-year average. Historically, the highest annual streamflows at these four stations occur during the month of June, resulting from melting and runoff of the previous winter's mountain snowpack. The combination of lower than normal mountain snowpack, and drier and warmer than normal weather conditions in May resulted in the highest streamflows occuring 11 to 15 days earlier than usual at these stations.
Preliminary mean streamflow data for the month of June for selected streamflow
gaging stations operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in Wyoming.
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June 1961-90 Percent of
USGS streamflow gaging station monthly Average 1961-90
--------------------------------------- mean monthly Average
Number Name discharge discharge discharge
(ft3/sec) (ft3/sec)
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06280300 South Fork Shoshone River, 1,404 1,760 80
near Valley, WY
06298000 Tongue River near Dayton, WY 455 763 60
06630000 North Platte River above Seminoe 1,921 4,605 42
Reservoir, near Sinclair, WY
09210500 Fontenelle Creek near Herschler 89.5 230 39
Ranch, near Fontenelle, WY
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Since 1895, the USGS has collected streamflow data at more than 2,000 sites throughout Wyoming. About 150 streamflow data collection stations currently are in operation. The data are collected in cooperation with many local, State, and Federal agencies.
The USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations
across the country to provide reliable, impartial, scientific information to
resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered
in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property
from natural disaster; contribute to the sound conservation, economic and
physical development of the nation's natural resources; and to enhance the
quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.
Additional information, including current streamflow conditions in Wyoming,
can be found by accessing the Water Resources of Wyoming on the
World Wide Web at:
USGS Wyoming State Representative 2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B Cheyenne, WY 82001-5662 Phone: (307) 778-2931 FAX: (307) 778-2764 Email: state_rep_wy@usgs.gov
The URL for this page is: http://wy.water.usgs.gov/news/html/070500.htm