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Category: Water Management - Missouri River
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  • Reservoir system prepared for 2017 runoff season

    The full flood control capacity of the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system is available for the 2017 runoff season, according to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Water Management Division. All 2016 stored flood waters were evacuated as of December 18, when the total volume stored in the reservoir system reached 56.1 million acre-feet (MAF). “The entire flood control capacity of the Mainstem Reservoir System stands ready to capture spring runoff, reducing flood risk while providing support to other authorized project purposes,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
  • Updated snowpack and reservoir conditions for week of Jan. 31 now available

    Each Tuesday, the Missouri River Water Management Division will provide weekly updates on plains and mountain snowpack and mainstem reservoir conditions. “We are committed to providing everyone the most up-to-date information regarding snowpack and reservoir conditions,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
  • Weekly updated for snowpack and reservoir conditions now available

    The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is providing weekly updates on plains and mountain snowpack and mainstem reservoir conditions on their website. “Some areas of the upper basin, specifically central North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota, are experiencing significant plains snowpack this winter. As the plains and mountain snowpack accumulation periods continue this winter and early spring, we want to provide everyone the most up-to-date information regarding snowpack and reservoir conditions,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
  • Reservoir system prepared for 2017 runoff season; Missouri Basin runoff near average for 2016

    The full flood control capacity of the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system is available for the 2017 runoff season, according to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Water Management Division. All 2016 stored flood water was evacuated from the reservoir system as of December 18, when the total volume stored in the Mainstem Reservoir System reached 56.1 million acre-feet (MAF). “Due to the complete evacuation of the reservoir system, Gavins Point releases were reduced from 18,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to the normal winter rate of 17,000 cfs on January 5. Basin conditions will continue to be monitored and reservoir releases adjusted as needed throughout the winter in preparation for the 2017 runoff season”, said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division. “The entire flood control capacity of the Mainstem Reservoir System stands ready to capture spring runoff, reducing flood risk while providing support to other authorized project purposes.”
  • Gavins Point Dam releases reduced to winter levels; Missouri Basin runoff near average for 2016

    The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) reduced releases from Gavins Point Dam in late November to the winter release rate, marking the end of flow support for the 2016 navigation season. “Releases from Gavins Point Dam were reduced over a 3-day period from 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 18,000 cfs,” said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division. “Releases are expected to range between 17,000 cfs and 18,000 cfs this winter, but will be adjusted as needed to evacuate the remainder of water stored in the annual flood control zone prior to the start of the next year’s runoff season.” Based on the September 1 system storage, Gavins Point Dam winter releases will be at least 17,000 cfs. During the winter, the Corps will closely monitor conditions throughout the basin and will adjust releases to lessen the impact of river ice formation on water intakes along the lower river to the extent possible.
  • 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.