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News Releases

  • Agencies extend Columbia River environmental review, delay public meetings

    Two federal agencies are extending the public scoping period for the Columbia River System Operations Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS.) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), or co-lead agencies, are also adjusting the timing of the public meetings to the week of April 7, 2025.

  • Below average runoff continues for upper Missouri River Basin in 2025

    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.

  • Below-average runoff and reservoir storage expected for the Missouri River Mainstem System in 2025

    For the 2024 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa totaled 23.3 million acre-feet, 91% of average. Dry conditions continue to affect the upper Missouri River Basin at the start of the 2025 calendar year, so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting below-average runoff into the mainstem reservoir system. For 2025, runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa is forecast to be 20.2 MAF, 79% of average.

  • Columbia River environmental review begins, agencies seek input

    Two federal agencies are seeking public input on changed circumstances and new information regarding Columbia River System operations to inform preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), who are the co-lead agencies for the SEIS, issued a notice of intent in the Federal Register, today, which announced the effort and the need for public input over the next 90 days.

  • Gavins Point Dam releases reduced to winter release rate

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began reducing the Gavins Point releases to the winter release rate on 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 32,000 cfs prior to the reductions.

  • Treaty negotiation milestone and 2025 operating plan gives more certainty for Columbia River Basin flood risk management, agencies announce public info sessions

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will update the public about 2025 flood risk management (FRM) operations related to the Columbia River Treaty (Treaty). The agencies will hold virtual information sessions on December 4 and December 5.

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