Northwestern Division News Releases

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.

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.

Below normal runoff continues in the Upper Missouri Basin

Press Operations — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:30:00 GMT

July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 62% of average. Runoff was below-average in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches with average to above-average runoff in the lower four reaches. The annual runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa is 19.2 MAF, 75% of average.

June runoff much below average; Navigation flow support decreased slightly after System storage check

Press Operations — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:17:54 GMT

June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 3.3 million acre-feet, 60% of average. The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average.

May runoff average; Missouri River upper basin runoff forecast below normal

Press Operations — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:57:41 GMT

The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. May runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 3.4 million acre-feet, 100% of average.

Releases from Garrison Dam to be temporarily lowered

Press Operations — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:43:47 GMT

To assist with the recovery of a tugboat that sank on the Missouri River on Tuesday, May 6, releases from Garrison Dam will be reduced.

Missouri River upper basin runoff forecast lowered due to dry conditions

Press Operations — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:12:45 GMT

The updated 2025 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 1.4 million acre-feet, 48% of average.

Missouri River upper basin runoff continues below average forecast

Press Operations — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:20:00 GMT

The updated 2025 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 2.3 million acre-feet, 76% of average.

Virtual Missouri River water management public meetings set for April

Press Operations — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:51:17 GMT

Two meetings to hear from the public about planned operation of the Missouri River Mainstem System will be held the first week in April.

Spring Missouri River public meetings to be virtual

Press Operations — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 20:02:09 GMT

Virtual meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations are in the process of being scheduled. Meeting dates and times will be announced as the details are finalized. In-person public meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations, which were scheduled for March 19, 31 and April 2 have been canceled.

Gavins Point releases increasing for navigation flow support; Upper basin runoff stays below average

Press Operations — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. February runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.0 million acre-feet, 91% of average. “Runoff into the reservoir system was slightly below average for the month of February and conditions across most of the basin remain dry,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

Below average runoff continues for upper Missouri River Basin in 2025

Press Operations — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT

The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. January runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 0.7 million acre-feet, 92% of average. Runoff was near or below average for most of the Missouri River Basin, and most of the upper basin had below-normal precipitation.