Bureau of Reclamation to Lower Guernsey Reservoir to Flush Silt

Boaters, recreationists and irrigators should prepare for the changing river flows below Glendo and Guernsey reservoirs and the rapid lowering and refilling of Guernsey Reservoir this month for the annual silt flushing, according to the Wyoming Area Office of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Mills.

"The silt run is an operation which provides silt-laden water to Goshen, Gering-Fort Laramie and Pathfinder Irrigation Districts under contract with Reclamation," Wyoming Area Manager Carlie Ronca said in a news release.

Early Sunday, the release of water from the Glendo Reservoir will be drop from about 4,500 cubic feet per second to 1,500 cfs, which will rapidly lower the Guernsey Reservoir's water level by 25 feet by July 11.

The water level drop will render unusable the boat ramps at the Guernsey Reservoir.

On July 12, the water release from the Glendo Reservoir will flow through the Guernsey Reservoir, flushing its silt into the canals of downstream irrigators.

The flushing will continue through July 25, when the release of water from Glendo Reservoir will be rapidly increased to refill Guernsey Reservoir.

The water level will be suitable for boating by July 27. The Guernsey water level will continue to rise by about six feet per day until the normal reservoir level is reached by July 30.