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    • Reservoir Operations

    The operation of Painted Rocks Reservoir involves three main parties: DNRC, the Painted Rocks Water Users Association (PRWUA), and the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP). Painted Rocks Reservoir stores approximately 32,362 acre-ft (ac-ft) of water, with 25,000 ac-ft markPainted-Rocks-2.jpgeted to the FWP and PRWUA. In addition, the Bitterroot River Water Commissioner manages the river to insure the apportionment and diversion of decree and contract waters.

    DNRC owns the dam and the reservoir area. It is DNRC’s responsibility to insure that the reservoir is filled and operated safely and that water is available for delivery to the contract holders when it is called for.

    The shares marketed to the PRWUA (10,000 ac-ft or 2/5th) is primarily used for agricultural purposes. This water can only be released when called for by the PRWUA. If you have any questions regarding the releases of contract irrigation water, please contact the PRWUA.
     
    The shares marketed to FWP (15,000 ac-ft or 3/5ths) are used for in-stream flows. 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 (406-363-7169).

    Date Last Updated:

    6/1/2023

    Reservoir Elevation (FT_MSL)

    4726.71

    Current Storage (ac-ft)

    33132


    Inflows to Painted Rocks

    Stream Name

     

    Flow Rate (cfs)

    Blue Joint Creek

     

    359.4

    West Fork Bitterroot River

     

    350.04

    Overwich Creek

     

    86.07

    Slate Stage

     

    56.02

    Little Boulder Creek

     

    3.00

    Total Inflow

     

    854.53 cfs

     
    Outflows from Painted Rocks Reservoir

    USGS Gauge (ft)

     

    Outflow before gate adjustment (cfs)

    815

    Outflow after gate adjustment (cfs)       

    815


    Water Contracts

     

    Current Flow
    (cfs)

    Previous Flow Rate
    (cfs)

    Volume Delivered to Date
    (ac-ft)

    Volume Remaining
    (ac-ft)

    Days Remaining at Current Flow

    Irrigation   Contracts

    (10,000
    ac-ft)

    -

    -

    -

    -

    		 -

    In-Stream Fisheries   Contracts

    (15,000
    ac-ft)

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    Comments

     

     

    At this time I want to remind everyone how Painted Rocks Reservoir is managed, who the primary stakeholders are, and how water releases are determined.  

    1. Painted Rocks Reservoir and Dam is a State Of Montana water storage facility. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) regulates the reservoir thru the Water Resources Division’s State Water Projects Bureau. The DNRC ensures that the reservoir is filled in a timely fashion and kept full until water is requested by the contract holders. The water within the reservoir has been sold under a contract to two principal entities: the MT Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the Painted Rocks Water Users Association (PRWUA). The DNRC is charged with filling the reservoir and managing it in such a manner as to be able to fulfill the contractual requirement to release the stored water when requested by the contract holders. The DNRC does not determine when contract water is delivered. Whenever possible, gate adjustments will be made mid-week, and releases will generally be made in 50-75 cfs increments. Contract deliveries are dependent upon weather and river conditions.

    1. Decisions regarding the timing and size of the contract water releases are made by the contract holders in consultation with the Ravalli County District Court appointed Bitterroot River Water Commissioner. If questions arise regarding the timing or quantities of the releases of contract waters from the reservoir, they should be directed at the individuals listed below:

      a. Fisheries Contract Water: Jason Lindstrom, FWP, 363-7169, Jason.Lindstrom@mt.gov

      b. Irrigation Contract Water:  Roger Raynal, PRWUA Vice President, 369-1730, ttcr@chsmgt.com

      c. Bitterroot River Water Commissioner:  JR Iman, 360-8686 calljriman@yahoo.com

    If you are interested, here are the online gages for Blue Joint Creek
    ( http://data.mbmg.mtech.edu/swamp/reports/GageReport.asp?SiteId=2890940&reqby=P& ) and the West Fork of the Bitterroot above the dam
    ( http://data.mbmg.mtech.edu/swamp/reports/GageReport.asp?SiteId=2890943&reqby=P& )

    Painted Rocks Dam outflow information
    The USGS gage link information for the gage immediately below the dam: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/uv?site_no=12342500  This site has flows that are recorded/displayed every 15 minutes and can be assessed by anyone at any time. Therefore it will give you the most up to date outflow information available for Painted Rocks Dam.