Drought conditions continue across the upper Missouri River basin according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “With the exception of the Fort Peck to Garrison reach, runoff into the Missouri River mainstem reservoirs during July was below average due to the continuing drought conditions in the upper basin.” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “Runoff into Garrison was 124 percent of average, due to runoff from the remaining mountain snowmelt. July runoff ranged from 20 to 90 percent of average in the other reservoir reaches.” Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa for the month of July was 3.3 million acre feet (MAF), 101 percent of average. The 2017 runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, is 27.9 MAF, 110 percent of average. As previously announced, the Corps will be providing flows to support full-service navigation as well as a full, eight-month navigation season. Full-service flow support is generally sufficient to provide a navigation channel that is 9 feet deep and 300 feet wide. “Gavins Point releases will be adjusted as necessary to meet full-service navigation targets in reaches with commercial navigation,” added Farhat. The September 1 system storage check will determine the winter releases from Gavins Point.
The Corps has announced that John Remus has been selected as the new chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. Mr. Remus currently serves as the chief of the Hydrologic Engineering Branch in the Corps’ Omaha District. Mr. Remus assumes the duties of the position in late August and replaces Ms. Farhat, who is retiring.