Projected high heat to affect dam operations |
| June 27, 2013 |
|
Inflows at Libby Dam were driven up by last week's storm to a
peak near 94 kcfs on Friday. Since then, they
have been gradually receding, and are currently
just below 50 kcfs. The forecast for the next two weeks is mostly dry, but with an intense heat wave beginning the middle of next week and extending to the farthest northern areas of the Kootenai Basin. Due to the reduced snowpack, this heat wave is not expected to drive inflows back up to the level seen last week, but will delay the recession. In order to continue controlling refill, discharge from Libby Dam will be increased this afternoon at 4 p.m. MST from 28 kcfs to 30 kcfs. Kootenay Lake is seasonally low, and the stage at Bonners Ferry is expected to stay several feet below flood stage. Discharge will continue at elevated levels until flows have dropped and we are able to pass inflow. |