26 Nov 2018

2018 Edition of Missouri River Master Manual now available

The 2018 edition of the document governing how the six dams on the Missouri River will be operated was made available to the public today. The 2018 Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Master Water Control Manual, or Master Manual, reflects current data and conditions relative to data collection, reservoir modeling, long-term runoff forecasting, reservoir regulation planning, and communications. The 2018 manual also includes cumulative regulation data, such as runoff and reservoir data, through 2017.

23 Nov 2018

Releases from Gavins Point Dam to begin declining Sunday

Water releases from Gavins Point Dam will be reduced Sunday, Nov. 25, from 58,000 cubic feet per second to 55,000 cfs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today. Releases will be incrementally reduced over the next few weeks to winter release rates ahead of the river’s icing-in in the upper portions of the basin.

21 Nov 2018

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Releases Work Plan for Fiscal 2019 Civil Works Appropriations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) delivered to Congress its Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 2019) Work Plan for the Army Civil Works program yesterday.

21 Nov 2018

Record of Decision signed for Missouri River Recovery Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement

OMAHA, Neb.—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Commander Brig. Gen. D. Peter Helmlinger signed a ‘Record of Decision’ for the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Tuesday.

13 Nov 2018

Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee celebrates 10-year anniversary

OMAHA, Neb.—The Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its formation in conjunction with its fall plenary meeting scheduled Nov. 27-29.

5 Nov 2018

Continued reservoir releases in preparation for 2019 runoff season; Public meetings set for this week

Higher-than-average releases from all Missouri River Mainstem System projects, including Gavins Point, will continue through November. To ensure all stored 2018 runoff is evacuated prior to the 2019 runoff season, most of the releases must occur before the river ices over in reaches predominantly upstream from Lake Oahe. The 2018 runoff forecast looks to be the third highest since record-keeping began in 1898. Runoff in the unregulated reach from Gavins Point Dam to Sioux City was 1.7 million acre feet for September and October, which is the highest in 120 years of record-keeping

2 Nov 2018

River operators increase flows to welcome returning chum salmon

Sometimes being underwater is a good thing, especially for Columbia River salmon nests, called redds. This fall, federal agencies are increasing Columbia River flows below Bonneville Dam to ensure the redds of spawning chum salmon stay covered with water. The agencies have conducted these “chum operations” every fall since 2000. Beginning Nov. 2, the river will be held between 11.5 to 13 feet above sea level to ensure chum can spawn at the mouth of Hamilton Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. For chum operations to occur, water is released from reservoirs as far away as Hungry Horse and Libby dams in Montana, more than 850 river-miles upriver from Bonneville Dam. The water is then captured and released as needed to create spawning flows that keep the redds underwater.