The Upper Bear Basin only received 1.9" of precipitation in October...about 83% of average. The Basin is about the same % of average for snow water equivalent (SWE) but we've received so little snow that a small amount can result in a large change in the % of average. Because of the low precipitation and the falling water level of the lake, Rocky Mountain Power (RM) has changed the management of inflow/outflow to the lake. About mid October I had heard that both the inflow and outflow gates were closed as the lake level was close to the March 31st target of 5918.0 ft. But the lake has continued to fall and with the weather models not being optimistic on November 5th RMP opened the inflow from the Rainbow Canal while keeping the outflow gates closed. This should result in some elevation of lake water level but I don't see it reflected yet in the Bear River Commission data. On October 31st the lake was about 60% full.
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