Northwestern Division News Releases

Missouri River system storage declining, Gavins point winter releases set at minimum rate

Press Operations — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:18:00 GMT

August runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 1.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 73% of average. Runoff was well below normal in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches due to dry soil moisture conditions and areas of below-normal precipitation. Runoff was above normal for the Oahe, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point reaches, and near normal in the Sioux City reach, mostly due to above-normal precipitation during parts of August.

Below normal runoff continues in the Upper Missouri Basin

Press Operations — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:08:34 GMT

July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 61% of average. Runoff was below-normal to well-below-normal in the Fort Peck, Garrison, and Oahe reaches due to lack of precipitation, dry soils, and below-average mountain snowpack. Runoff was above normal in the Fort Randall and Gavins Point reaches and near normal in the Sioux City reach.

Heat broils eastern Washington, Idaho as federal water managers seek to salve river temperatures. Enter Dworshak Dam – calm, cool (water) and collected.

Press Operations — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:52:13 GMT

The Clearwater and Snake rivers converge at Lewiston and the hot water from those two rivers mixing there is dangerous for salmon and steelhead that prefer cooler water temperatures. As dire as this can be, there is one tool the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has to help cool the river – Dworshak Dam, also near Orofino. Salmon are cold-water species and migrate most efficiently at 65 degrees, according to Chris Peery, fish biologist for Walla Walla District.

Below-average runoff leads to reduced navigation flow support and shortened season

Press Operations — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:09:00 GMT

June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.9 million acre-feet, 52% of average. The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average.

Weekend heat spike could prove deadly

Press Operations — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:07:59 GMT

The National Weather Service is predicting a spike in temperatures this weekend, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s along the Interstate 5 corridor. High heat like this often drives people to seek relief in lakes and rivers across the region, which could be deadly if those who swim, boat or fish are not wearing life jackets.

Below average runoff forecasts for upper Missouri River Basin continue

Press Operations — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:19:58 GMT

Runoff continues to be below average in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. Below-normal precipitation, dry soil conditions in the western portions of the basin, and an overall lack of mountain snowpack resulted in a May runoff of 1.6 million acre-feet (MAF), 46% of average.

Water managers monitor upper-elevation rain that could cause local flooding

Press Operations — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:03:45 GMT

Pacific Northwest weather can be a conundrum. In 2026, many parts of the region struggled to build snowpack and saw minimal precipitation. However, even average snowpack combined with storm events can lead to elevated stream flows, as the Flathead Basin in western Montana saw this week.

Missouri River upper basin runoff forecast lowered due to dry conditions

Press Operations — Wed, 06 May 2026 16:40:05 GMT

The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. April runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.5 million acre-feet, 51% of average. The 2026 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 17.1 MAF, 67% of average. The runoff forecast is based on current soil moisture conditions, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature outlooks.

Spring fish operations begin on Snake, Columbia rivers

Press Operations — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:49:00 GMT

Spring fish passage operations began April 3 at federal dams on the lower Snake River and will begin April 10 on the lower Columbia River.

Dry March leads to reduction in annual basin runoff forecast

Press Operations — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:40:54 GMT

The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. March runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.7 million acre-feet, 56% of average.

Join USACE water managers for public meetings on Missouri River system operations

Press Operations — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:19:00 GMT

After a season of virtual-only updates, USACE Missouri River water managers look forward to meeting with members of the public in person this spring. The public is invited to join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local weather experts for a series of briefings on the 2026 runoff season, reservoir status, and our planned operations for the year ahead.

Dry outlook persists for Missouri River despite early spring runoff; Navigation support to begin mid-March

Press Operations — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:48:49 GMT

Warm February temperatures triggered early snowmelt and runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, but the overall 2026 runoff forecast remains well below average. February runoff was 1.3 million acre-feet, 113% of average. Despite this above average runoff in the Garrison, Oahe, and Gavins Point reaches, the full-year runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa is 20.6 MAF, 80% of average.

Lower than normal runoff expected for the Missouri River Basin in 2026

Press Operations — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:04:41 GMT

January runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.0 million acre-feet, which is 132% of average. Runoff was above average for all of the reaches in the upper Missouri River Basin, even though most of the upper Basin had below-normal precipitation. This was due to above average temperatures causing early snowmelt.

Forecast shows Missouri River runoff returning to more normal levels after below-average 2025

Press Operations — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:36:44 GMT

For the 2025 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa totaled 19.9 million acre-feet, 78% of average. For 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa to be near- average at 24.5 MAF, 96% of average.

Federal water managers take precautions by adjusting water levels behind John Day dam as precipitation mounts

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:05:57 GMT

Federal water managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will adjust water levels behind John Day Dam (Lake Umatilla), in north-central Oregon, this week to prepare for another round of heavy precipitation in the Columbia River Basin. This will be the third atmospheric river storm event within the last two weeks.

Gavins Point Dam releases reduced to winter release rate

Press Operations — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:43:00 GMT

Reduced releases from the Gavins Point Dam to the winter release rate on began Nov. 23 with the navigation flow support season ending on Dec. 1 at St. Louis. “Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being reduced to the 12,000 cubic feet per second winter release rate by mid-December,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division. “We will closely monitor river conditions, and releases will be adjusted to the extent practical to lessen the impacts of river ice formation on stages in the lower river.” Releases were at 26,000 cfs prior to the reductions.

Gavins Point Dam releases to be reduced to winter release rate

Press Operations — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:54:00 GMT

Releases from Gavins Point Dam will be reduced in late November as flow support to navigation ends. Releases are currently 25,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). “We will continue to make releases from Gavins Point Dam to provide flow support at a level 4,500 cfs less than full service, through the end of the navigation flow support season, which ends on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River,” said John Remus, chief of the USACE, Missouri River Water Management Division.

Virtual Missouri River fall public meeting in-lieu of canceled meetings

Press Operations — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:06:56 GMT

In-person public meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations, which were scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27; Monday, Nov. 3; and Tuesday, Nov. 4 have been canceled. A virtual meeting on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30 to present the draft 2025-2026 Annual Operating Plan.

September runoff above average; Fall public meetings set

Press Operations — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:57:00 GMT

Although overall runoff for September 2025 in the upper Missouri River Basin was above average, runoff in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches continues to be well-below average. “Beneficial rainfall occurred over central South Dakota and North Dakota in September resulting in well-above average runoff into Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

System storage declining, Gavins Point Dam's winter releases will be minimum rate

Press Operations — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:26:28 GMT

August runoff was 1.5 million acre-feet, 109% of average above Sioux City with most of the runoff entering the System below Garrison Dam. September runoff in the upper Basin is forecast to be well below average, especially in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches. The updated 2025 calendar year forecast for the upper Basin is 19.1 MAF, 74% of average. Average annual runoff for the upper Basin is 25.7 MAF.