News Releases

7 Jul 2017

Drought conditions expand in Upper Missouri River Basin; Gavins Point releases lowered in early July

Drought conditions in the upper Missouri River basin have expanded and intensified during the past month, reducing inflows to the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. As a result, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Missouri River Basin Water Management Division made a slight reduction in Gavins Point releases this week, from 33,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 32,000 cfs. Gavins Point releases were held steady at 33,000 cfs during June. The total volume of water stored in the reservoir system is currently 61.8 MAF and is nearing its annual peak. With approximately 65 percent of the flood control storage remaining, the reservoirs remain well positioned to capture runoff from summer rainfall events in the upper basin. The vacant flood control storage will also allow for future reductions in Gavins Point releases in response to summer rainfall events in the lower basin if necessary. The 2017 runoff forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, is 28.5 MAF, 113 percent of normal. Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa in June was 5.8 MAF, 106 percent of normal. The melt of the mountain snowpack is complete and inflows to the reservoirs are declining.

6 Jun 2017

Gavins Point releases increased as downstream flows recede

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division increased releases from Gavins Point in late-May as tributaries downstream of Gavins Point receded. Releases from Gavins Point had been reduced to 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) in mid-May to lessen flooding along the lower Missouri River due to widespread, heavy rainfall in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Releases are expected to remain at the current rate of 33,000 cfs through June. The mainstem reservoir system began the 2017 runoff season with the full 16.3 million acre-feet (MAF) of flood control storage available. The total volume of water stored in the reservoir system is currently 60.5 MAF.

4 May 2017

Gavins Point releases reduced to lessen downstream flooding

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division reduced releases from Gavins Point in early May. Downstream Missouri River and tributary flows increased due to widespread, heavy rainfall in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. “Rainfall events like we’ve seen recently can cause localized flooding downstream of the reservoir system. Gavins Point releases were reduced from 30,000 cfs to 21,000 cfs over several days to lesson downstream flooding,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. Releases from Gavins Point will be increased as downstream flows recede. “Flood risk reduction remains a primary consideration. While the risk of widespread flooding from upper basin runoff is low this year, floods can and will occur as a result of spring and summer thunderstorms, particularly along the lower Missouri River,” said Farhat. When possible, the Corps will utilize the available flood control space in the reservoirs to limit downstream river levels; however, the ability to significantly reduce flood risk along the lower Missouri River diminishes at locations further downstream due to the large uncontrolled drainage area and the travel time from Gavins Point Dam.

13 Apr 2017

Missouri River public meeting in Pierre cancelled; rescheduled as webinar for April 18

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division cancelled the spring public meeting scheduled in Pierre, SD today, April 13, due to fog which prevented Corps officials from landing at the local airport. The meeting will be rescheduled as a webinar next Tuesday, April 18 at 1:00 CT.

6 Apr 2017

April Missouri River update; spring public meetings to be held April 11-13

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division will hold five public meetings next week to update stakeholders on the planned operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. The public meetings will include a presentation from the Corps regarding current basin conditions and plans for operating the reservoir system in 2017, followed by a question and answer session. There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to speak one-on-one with Corps officials before and after the meetings. The reservoir system began the 2017 runoff season at the base of the annual flood control pool, providing the full 16.3 million acre-feet (MAF) of flood control storage. The total volume of water stored in the reservoir system is currently 58.5 MAF. “System storage currently occupies 2.4 MAF of the 16.3 MAF flood control zone,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “Approximately 85 percent of the flood control storage remains available to capture runoff from the spring rainfall and mountain snowmelt.” All significant plains snowpack has melted.

7 Mar 2017

February runoff above average; Public meetings scheduled for April 11-13

Runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 2.4 million acre feet (MAF) during February, 219 percent of average. “Warm temperatures melted much of the plains snowpack that had accumulated throughout the winter in the upper Missouri River basin resulting in above average runoff during February,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. Only small areas in central North Dakota have significant plains snowpack remaining. Areas of eastern Montana and central Wyoming have less than an inch of liquid content in their remaining snowpack, and little or no snow remains elsewhere in the Dakotas. “Runoff from plains snowmelt that would normally occur in March and April started early this year and some has already entered the reservoir system,” said Farhat. “Additionally, warm temperatures released water that had been locked up in river ice, contributing to higher than average February runoff.”