But it's not over yet. The snowpack at the top of Willow Creek Pass normally peaks in late April, but it's the beginning of June and we still have more snow up there than the average peak, despite the fact it's been melting. The forecast calls for cooler weather, which means snowpack will continue to melt - but at a slower, much more manageable rate. Flows are retreating today and will likely hold steady or decline slightly in the next few days. But keep an eye on the skies and thermometers: We are still vulnerable to additional peaking events if there's a rainstorm or stretch of hot weather.
Our records show that the maximum observed inflow to Willow Creek Reservoir was a daily average of 1,857 cfs on May 24, 1984. In comparison, this year's three peak flow rates occurred for just a few minutes each; our maximum daily average for 2011 so far was yesterday at 1,652 cfs.
So while we don't have a flow rate that's going into the record books, we're still on track to smash the previous record for the total volume of runoff: 85,300 acre feet from April 1 to July 31 in 1957. This year's inflows are already 64,600 acre feet, and we still have seven weeks to go!
As the elevation in Willow Creek Reservoir continues to rise, we will pump water into Lake Granby if necessary to help keep Willow Creek Reservoir outflows at or below 1,300 cfs.
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