MANAGEMENT OF RIVER FLOWS BY BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
The following is an exchange
of letters between Frank Johnson, a member of the Big Horn River
Alliance and Mr. Dan Jewell, Area Manager, Montana Office of the
Bureau of Reclamation.
After many years of drought and low river flows in the Big Horn
River we have has two years of normal or near normal precipitation,
snow fall and spring run-off. The BOR has changed the management of
flows from Yellowtail Dam in such a way as to be damaging and
potentially dangerously damaging to our recreational opportunities
and to the biology of the river. Most importantly, the concern is
for the biology of the river. Extreme low flows at the wrong times
of year and extreme high flows during early summer and the new
policy of maintaining, in layman’s terms, a full lake at all times
is more than just a little frightening to those of us who care about
the river.
This concern about the well being of the river prompted this
exchange of letters.
JOHNSON TO JEWELL:
Mr. Dan Jewell
Area Manager, Montana Area Office
Bureau of Reclamation
P. O. Box 30137
Billings, Mt 59107 - 0137
July 3, 2009
Dear Mr. Jewell,
I am writing to you regarding
management of Big Horn Lake and flows in the Big Horn River below
Yellowtail Dam.
I understand that there are more and new demands being placed on you
regarding lake elevations and river flows. I also understand that
you constantly face potential issues with nature – weather events,
drought, and flooding. I also understand that it is your charge to
generate power, and to provide for irrigation and flood mitigation.
Further, I understand that hind sight is 20 – 20.
Please understand, too, that when I get upset I also tend to be
rather sarcastic.
Forgive me for I must be upset.
I’ve been using both the lake and the river since the dam was
constructed and I really fail to understand what is going on with
storage and flow management. I do not understand why the resource
cannot be managed for the benefit of all. Particularly, why do I
detect this seeming obsession over the past two seasons to keep the
lake so full all year? I hate to see this media promoted controversy
between the lake users and the river users. It is not healthy for
the users or the resource.
I think you can manage water for all users in a better way, and that
you should manage for all users. It seems that you are only trying
to put out the fires on the squeakiest wheel. During the past two
springs you have not, for the most part, been kind to the trout, the
anglers or the businesses on the river. I would, however, argue that
there are at least two times as many people using the river
as use the lake. I charge that not all the usage figures I see
floating around are accurate. The usage figures I’ve attached,
although not scientific or over a long period of time are accurate.
I was there doing the counts. I really believe that sensibility
should be the watch-word here. This perceived conflict between lake
and river users is not necessary. Such a divisive approach is not
mine. I charge you to manage for all users.
I have some questions:
What is going on with this business of the magic lake elevation of
3620 on Memorial Day weekend? It doesn’t make sense to me
considering the fact that on Memorial Day Sunday, May 25, 2008 at
2:00pm there were ZERO boat trailers in the parking lot of Horseshoe
Bend Marina. On Memorial Day Sunday this year there were 6 boat
trailers at Horseshoe Bend Marina. At the same time in 2008 there
were 19 boat trailers at Ok-A-Beh Marina and 103 boat trailers at
the fishing access sites on the river below the dam while river
flows were at extreme low levels. I and others did these counts as
an effort to educate ourselves as to real usage. I might also add
that I took photographs of the parking lots every time I went to
Horseshoe Bend. Please look at the numbers (attached).
Why seek that lake elevation at that time if Horseshoe Bend is not
being used, or being used so little? Why do those few early season
users not go to Barry’s Landing which has a much lower launch
elevation? I would suggest you seek the Horseshoe Bend launch
elevation during the third weekend of June? That’s when that marina
begins to be used. That’s the weekend the Friends of Big Horn Lake
have their “Big Horn Lake Day”. With typical bad weather over
Memorial Day Weekend and so little use why not have another three
weeks to manage spring runoff and recognize your responsibilities
for flood control should there be weather events. I don’t see how
you can maintain such historic high lake elevations and not face
flooding problems at some time. With these high lake elevations I
see that there have already been problems with dam leakage, ice on
the dam, dangerous debris on the lake, flooded camp grounds, extreme
high flows in the river, loss of business to businesses serving
river users, loss of business to businesses serving lake users,
stream bank and stream bed erosion, and even some lowland flooding.
Mr. Jewell, relating to the loss of business, I and many others took
a pay cut during this extreme high water event on the river. Did
you?? I think that keeping that lake so full all winter and spring
was irresponsible on your part.
At the management meeting on April 2nd, 2009 it was suggested that
you increase river flows to avoid such happening. You brushed off
that idea and said the flow would be only 5500 csf or some such
thing. Yea, right.
Why does Barry’s Landing not become part of the equation? Is it
simply because Barry’s is located in Montana? Or does it have to do
with the Lovell Chamber of Commerce or does it have to do with the
National Park Service. It is a question I will ask Mr. Case when I
meet with him soon.
Where did the spirit of cooperation and coordination between your
area of responsibility (Montana) and the dams in Wyoming go? The
people who manage Buffalo Bill and Boysen dams in Wyoming and you
guys in Billings seem to manage as if you are on different planets.
Why should it surprise you when they increase flows? As I recall at
one time all three reservoirs were managed from the same office –
what a logical idea. What caused the split?
Why, during early 2008 were you so insistent on maintaining such low
flows – 1789csf May 23, 2008 well below minimum flow 2500csf
suggested by Montana FWP for any successful spawning and
recruitment. And then up to more than 10,000csf on June 19, 2008.
You were begged to give more water to the river and very bluntly
refused to do so. Why? Why did you not increase flows much earlier –
for the benefit of all and most importantly the trout?
You did the same thing this year. The lake was at a historic high
level, and there was no reason for flows as low as you maintained
during March, April and May. Using the Friends of the Bighorn River
reservoir simulator, we demonstrated in late March that using the
forecasted inflows (primarily snowmelt) that flows of 2800csf in
March, 3200csf in April and 4500csf in May would have satisfied all
concerns except a half dozen boaters on Memorial Day. You persisted
in keeping releases down and everyone except you saw the lake going
high in the flood pool, huge releases and lake campgrounds flooding
along with the other problems herein listed.
Please rethink your techniques for managing normal or near normal
water years. I understand that we are just following a lot of
drought years. I hope that you start getting it right before all of
our fish and aquatic insects are in the Gulf of Mexico and that
there are still a few lake boaters who still have props on their
boats and their boat hulls are intact.
These are tough times Mr. Jewell. Because of the general poor
economy the businesses in the Big Horn River Valley have had to
scratch to get customers and now with these dramatically high flows
customers have cancelled visits that were booked month ago.
Businesses who normally rent boats to the general public have backed
off because of the dangerously high flows in the river. I can show
you a stack of cancellations from just a few outfitters that would
bring tears to your eyes.
I’ve attached several charts and graphs regarding my boat trailer
counts during the year 2008
As you can see I am copying this letter to others. Some of whom
might be more understanding of the need to manage Big Horn Lake in a
more sensible manner and address the needs of all users.
Thank you.
Frank F. Johnson
11 Spring Creek Lane
Sheridan, WY 82801 Phone 307-672-5164
CC:
Mr. Mike Ryan
Regional Director
Great Plains Region
Bureau of Reclamation
P.O Box 36900
Billings, Mt 59107 – 6900
Mr. Michael L. Connor
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation
1849 ‘C’ Street NW
Washington, DC 20240 – 0001
Mr. Ken Salazar, Secretary
Department of Interior
1849 ‘C’ Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
Senator Max Baucus
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Max Baucus
Billings Office
222 North 32nd Street
Suite 100
Billings, MT 59101
Senator Michael Enzi
379A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Jon Tester
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Senator Jon Tester
Granite Tower
722 North 32nd Street
Suite 102
Billings, MT 59101
The Honorable
Dennis Rehberg
2448 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable
Dennis Rehberg
District Office
1201 Grand AV, Suite 1
Billings, Montana 59102
Gary Hammond
Regional Supervisor
Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks
2300 Lake Elmo Drive
Billings, MT 59105
Ken Frazer
Fisheries Manager
Mt. Dept. of FWP
2300 Lake Elmo Drive
Billings, MT 59105
Shane Colton, Chairperson
Montana FWP Commission
335 Clark
Billings, MT 59101
Jewell to Johnson
