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News Releases

  • Army Corps of Engineers promotes water safety this summer season

    Summer is almost here and that means millions of Americans will be planning visits to our nation’s lakes and rivers. As the steward of many of these public waters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reminds visitors to be aware of the importance of practicing safe, sensible and thoughtful activities in and around the water.

  • Near-record April runoff leads to continued above-average Gavins Point releases

    Much above average runoff continues in the upper Missouri River basin. April runoff in the upper basin, the Missouri River above Sioux City, Iowa, was 7.8 million acre feet (MAF), the third highest April runoff in the 121 years of record. The average April runoff is 2.9 MAF. Runoff in the Gavins Point Dam to Sioux City reach was 2.3 MAF, the second highest April runoff for this reach. The total March-April runoff for the upper basin was 18.7 MAF, which is the highest March-April runoff since record-keeping began in 1898, exceeding the previous record of 15.9 MAF, which occurred in 1952.

  • 3-week forecast for Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System updated

    Today’s three-week forecast for the Missouri River Mainstem System of dams shows that all system reservoirs are below their exclusive flood control pool elevations.

  • Missouri River Water Management spring public meeting videos now available

    The video of the spring public meeting held in Sioux City, Iowa on April 10, 2019. There are three separate videos. The first is the opening and a presentation from the National Weather Service, the second is Kevin Grode who talks about the system and its operations, as well as the March storm, and finally is Mike Swenson who talks about the 2019 runoff forecasts and how each of the authorized purposes will be served for 2019.

  • Pierre, South Dakota spring public meeting rescheduled for April 15

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division has rescheduled the spring public meeting in Pierre, South Dakota for Monday, April 15.

  • Fort Pierre, South Dakota spring public meeting canceled; Sioux City, Iowa meeting to be held as scheduled

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division canceled the spring public meeting scheduled to be held today in Fort Pierre, South Dakota today, April 10, due to blizzard conditions that prevented the Corps officials from landing at the local airport.

  • Record March runoff observed in upper basin; Public meetings set for April 9-11

    March runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was a record 11.0 million acre feet , surpassing the previous record of 7.3 MAF set in 1952. The average March upper basin runoff is 2.9 MAF. “The record March runoff significantly altered our 2019 upper basin runoff forecast,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

  • Corps begins spring spill operations with new flexibility to benefit fish and hydropower

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin implementing its 2019 Fish Operations Plan at the four lower Snake River dams April 3, and at the lower Columbia River dams April 10. The 2019 plan includes spill and transport operations for the spring and summer juvenile fish passage seasons at these dams, as specified in the NOAA Fisheries 2019 Columbia River System Biological Opinion.

  • Spring public meetings on Missouri River operations set for April 9-11

    Twice a year, the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division hosts public meetings to discuss the Missouri River Mainstem System, its runoff and reservoir operations. The spring public meetings are scheduled for April 9-11 across the Missouri River Basin.

  • Corps communicating with officials; making system adjustments as plains snowmelt continues

    Today, Brig. Gen Peter Helmlinger, commander of the Northwestern Division addressed participants on a regularly held call that provides updates to Congressional, State, Tribal, local officials and the media. The mountain snowpack, which usually peaks around April 15, is still accumulating but at a rate that is considered average. A considerable amount of plains snowmelt is entering Missouri River Mainstem reservoirs in North Dakota and South Dakota. The inflows are primarily in the reservoirs at Oahe Dam and Fort Randall Dam. System releases are being adjusted as a result.