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News Releases

  • Federal Agencies to Host Two Webinars December 13 for Columbia River System Operations EIS

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration will host two public scoping webinars December 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m. PST on the operation of 14 federal hydropower projects in the Columbia River Basin.

  • Statement Regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the Army informed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Energy Transfer Partners, and Dakota Access, LLC, that it has completed the review that it launched on September 9, 2016. The Army has determined that additional discussion and analysis are warranted in light of the history of the Great Sioux Nation’s dispossessions of lands, the importance of Lake Oahe to the Tribe, our government-to-government relationship, and the statute governing easements through government property.

  • Federal Agencies to hold nine more scoping meetings for Columbia River System Operations EIS

    About 300 people attended one of seven scoping meetings regarding the operation of 14 federal hydropower projects in the Columbia Basin. Nine more meetings and two webinars will be convened before the public comment period closes January 17, 2017, on the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

  • Above average Missouri Basin runoff in October, reduction to winter release rates to occur in late November

    Runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 1.9 million acre feet (MAF) during October, 155 percent of average, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The 2016 calendar year runoff forecast is 24.1 MAF, 95 percent of average. Average annual runoff is 25.3 MAF. The total volume of water stored in the Mainstem Reservoir System on November 1 was 57.2 MAF, occupying 1.1 MAF of the 16.3 MAF combined flood control storage zones. “System storage declined less than anticipated during October, only 0.2 MAF, as a result of heavy rainfall over north central Montana and northwestern Wyoming. During the remainder of fall and winter, we will complete the evacuation of the flood zones of the reservoirs to ensure we start next year’s runoff season with the full flood control capacity of the system available,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

  • Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee to meet in Omaha

    The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) will hold its 35th meeting here Nov. 15-17, 2016. The meetings are open to the public; members of the public will have an opportunity during each daily session to address the committee and the lead federal agencies – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) – regarding the Missouri River Recovery Program (MRRP).

  • Below average Missouri basin runoff continues; Draft Annual Operating Plan available for comment

    September runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 1.0 million acre feet, 91 percent of average, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This marks the fourth consecutive month with below average runoff in the upper basin. The 2016 calendar year runoff forecast is 22.7 MAF, which is 90 percent of the historic average. The total volume of water stored in the Mainstem Reservoir System on October 1 was 57.4 MAF, occupying 1.3 MAF of the 16.3 MAF combined flood control storage zones. System storage declined 0.7 MAF during September. Water that was captured in the reservoirs during the spring and summer is being released during the drier months to serve navigation, irrigation and other authorized purposes.

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