Grayrocks Reservoir, WY

[ChadWYO]

I just thought I'd post some info on here about Greyrocks. I drove past there yesterday(2/21) and the boat ramp to the south by the bait shop is probably 400-500 yards from the water. The Laramie Rivers is meandering in front of the boat ramp but the lake does not even start for another 400-500 yards down lake towards the dam. The water from the trees on the east side is about 200 yards from any water. What a sad sight. I haven't been there in about 3 years and it was a shocker to see it so low. There was 3/4 ice on the lake but some open areas including one guy shore fishing in open water. I spoke with him and he hadn't had one bite. I just don't see this lake filling up to boatable levels in the next 5-7 years unless we have massive amounts of rain and snow. what a shame!

[ChadWYO]

I just thought I'd post some info on here about Greyrocks. I drove past there yesterday(2/21) and the boat ramp to the south by the bait shop is probably 400-500 yards from the water. The Laramie Rivers is meandering in front of the boat ramp but the lake does not even start for another 400-500 yards down lake towards the dam. The water from the trees on the east side is about 200 yards from any water. What a sad sight. I haven't been there in about 3 years and it was a shocker to see it so low. There was 3/4 ice on the lake but some open areas including one guy shore fishing in open water. I spoke with him and he hadn't had one bite. I just don't see this lake filling up to boatable levels in the next 5-7 years unless we have massive amounts of rain and snow. what a shame!

[Tommy from CO]

I read this last week and suprised nobody has posted a response. Greyrocks used to be a great fishery but the Laramie River in nothing but a trickle now. It is a great resource being wasted becuase of farmers using to much water. I mean, you should not be irrigating in a desert to try to grow corn etc, its the desert!!

[eye4aneye]

From what I understand, the Grayrocks builders had to guarantee a minimum flow from the dam prior to construction. Outflows have exceeded inflows for a couple years now. Obviously, inflows have been dismal for the last several years and the Laramie really has a narrow drainage basin that has had far below normal snowfall for about 5 years now. It's not looking good for this year either.

As far as the farmers go, they are doing with much less water and have been for some time. The entire system is in awful shape, North Platte and tributaries like the Laramie. The Wheatland power plant is buying water rights all along the Laramie, taking land out of irrigated production. It won't help if inflows don't rebound.