Water levels in the Bitterroot River have risen dramatically since Painted Rocks Reservoir reached capacity and began spilling over Friday evening, May 2 at about 10 p.m.
According to dam manager Larry Schock, the reservoir outflows will increase from 427 cubic feet per second (cfs) to at least 600 cfs, and the outflows will continue to increase as the warmer temperatures increases the snow melt rates. Once the reservoir begins to spill, the outflows will increase to whatever the current inflows are, and the reservoir outflows will equal reservoir inflows.
5/1/14 Data
Storage measured at the boat ramp:
Elev. 4723.14 ft.
Storage 30,917 Acre Feet
This is an increase of 5067 AF since the 4/24 measurement (approximately 724 AF/day).
Inflows:
West Fork 258.03 cfs
Overwich Creek 211.48 cfs
Slate Creek 12.74 cfs
Little Boulder Creek 5.00 cfs (est.)
Blue Joint Creek 113.66 cfs (road blocked by debris slide, flow estimated based on rate of storage increase, also during run off Blue Joint and Overwich flows have historically been close)
Total Inflows 600.91 cfs