Yellowtail Dam & Bighorn Lake Climate Change

Billings, MTSeptember, 2010

RECLAMATIONManaging Water in the West

PREDICTING FUTURE CONDITIONS

Climate Change Models & Scenarios

• No one single answer but rather a range of possibilities.

• Looking ahead 30 years into the future

• A number of different climate models are being reviewed and results compared.

• 5 different potential climate change scenarios evaluated under Study

• Both timing and volume of runoff are important factors to consider

Buffalo Bill Average Annual Inflow

q3_P-T+_10-39 q4_P-T-_10-39 Current q5_PT_10-39 q2_P+T-_10-39 q1_P+T+_10-39700000

750000

800000

850000

900000

950000

Buffalo Bill Average Annual Inflow 2010-2039

Boysen Average Annual Inflow

q3_P-T+_10-39 Current q4_P-T-_10-39 q5_PT_10-39 q2_P+T-_10-39 q1_P+T+_10-39750000

800000

850000

900000

950000

1000000

1050000

Boysen Reservoir Average Annual Inflow 2010-2039

Bighorn Lake Average Annual Gains

q3_P-T+_10-39 q4_P-T-_10-39 Current q5_PT_10-39 q2_P+T-_10-39 q1_P+T+_10-390

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

500000

Bighorn lake Average Annual Gains 2010-2039

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS