| News
Release U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
|
Address 2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 | ||
| Release
May 8, 2001 |
Contact Kirk Miller Cheryl Miller Myron Brooks |
Phone (307) 778-2931 |
Fax (307) 778-2764 |
USGS: April Streamflows Preview Another Dry Summer for Wyoming
Streamflows measured at four indicator gages in Wyoming were below average during April, despite high flows early in the month during a period of warm weather. April streamflows averaged from 75 to just 53 percent of the long-term averages. Kirk Miller, hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, noted "For a gage on the upper North Platte River, this was the fourth-lowest April in 63 years."
Miller also noted prolonged droughts in Wyoming are not rare. According to previous streamflow analyses, in the last 100 years there were at least four significant hydrologic droughts that affected most, if not all, of the State. Each of those droughts lasted six or more years.
Drought conditions and vital tools for drought managers in Wyoming are now available at the click of a mouse. The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Wyoming Drought Watch has been updated and features daily streamflow conditions, historical streamflow data, drought analyses and other useful information for drought managers. Visit the site at: http://wy.water.usgs.gov/projects/drought/index.htm.
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. Additional information, including current
streamflow conditions in Wyoming, can be found by accessing the Water
Resources of Wyoming on the World Wide Web at:
http://wy.water.usgs.gov/
The USGS serves the nation by
providing reliable scientific information to: describe and understand the
Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage
water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect
our quality of life.
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.
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