Painted Rocks Reservoir Data

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• Reservoir Operations
  • The operation of Painted Rocks Reservoir involves three main parties. The DNRC, the Painted Rocks Water Users Association (PRWUA) and the MT FWP. Painted Rocks Reservoir holds approximately 32,656 acre-feet (af) of water, with 25,000 af of that stored water marketed to the MT FWP and the PRWUA. Additionally, there is the Bitterroot River Water Commissioner who manages the river in a manner that insures the apportionment and diversion of decreed and contract waters.
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  • The DNRC is owner of the dam and the reservoir area. It is our responsibility to insure that the reservoir is filled and operated safely and that water is available for delivery to the contract holders. Once the reservoir is full the amount of water that flows into the reservoir equals the reservoir outflows. The reservoir is held in this state of equilibrium until the contract water is requested. The DNRC is under contractual obligation to deliver the contract water at the dam to the contract holders when it is called for.
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  • The 10,000 af (or 2/5ths) of shares that has been marketed to the PRWUA is primarily used for agriculture purposes. This water can only be released when called for by the PRWUA.If you have questions regarding the releases of contract irrigation water please contact the PRWUA.
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  • The other 15,000 af (or 3/5ths) of shares has been marketed to the MT FWP for in-stream uses. This water is released when called for by the FWP. If you have questions regarding the releases of contract fisheries water please contact the FWP. The local FWP contact in the Bitterroot Valley is Chris Clancy at 363-7169.

DNRC - Water Resources Division
Missoula Office (406) 721-4284
Updated: 10/5/11

Elevation (ft msl): 4,680.02
Slope Distance (ft): 461
Storage (ac-ft): 10,976

Painted Rocks/Rock Creek Directory

Inflows to Painted Rocks

Stream Name		Flow Rate (cfs)
Blue Joint Creek		-
West Fork Bitterroot River		-
Overwich Creek		-
Slate Stage		-
Little Boulder Creek		-
	Total Inflow	84 cfs

Outflows from Painted Rocks Reservoir

USGS Gauge (ft)	Outflow before gate adjustment		197 cfs
		Outflow after gate adjustment	125 cfs

Water Contracts

	Current Flow (cfs)	Previous Flow Rate (cfs)	Volume Delivered Since Last Report	Volume Delivered to Date	Volume Remaining (acre-ft)	Days Remaining at Current Flow
Irrigation Contracts (10,000 acre-ft)	41	115	8,200	10,000	0	0
Instream Fisheries Contracts (15,000 acre-ft)	0	0	15,000	15,000	0	0
Comments:	Contract deliveries from Painted Rocks Reservoir were terminated on October 2nd and the outflows were adjusted to match the inflows. No more contract deliveries will be made this year.