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News Releases

  • Missouri River system storage declining, Gavins point winter releases set at minimum rate

    August runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 1.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 73% of average. Runoff was well below normal in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches due to dry soil moisture conditions and areas of below-normal precipitation. Runoff was above normal for the Oahe, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point reaches, and near normal in the Sioux City reach, mostly due to above-normal precipitation during parts of August.

  • Below normal runoff continues in the Upper Missouri Basin

    July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 61% of average. Runoff was below-normal to well-below-normal in the Fort Peck, Garrison, and Oahe reaches due to lack of precipitation, dry soils, and below-average mountain snowpack. Runoff was above normal in the Fort Randall and Gavins Point reaches and near normal in the Sioux City reach.

  • Heat broils eastern Washington, Idaho as federal water managers seek to salve river temperatures. Enter Dworshak Dam – calm, cool (water) and collected.

    The Clearwater and Snake rivers converge at Lewiston and the hot water from those two rivers mixing there is dangerous for salmon and steelhead that prefer cooler water temperatures. As dire as this can be, there is one tool the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has to help cool the river – Dworshak Dam, also near Orofino. Salmon are cold-water species and migrate most efficiently at 65 degrees, according to Chris Peery, fish biologist for Walla Walla District.

  • Below-average runoff leads to reduced navigation flow support and shortened season

    June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 2.9 million acre-feet, 52% of average. The updated 2026 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average.

  • Weekend heat spike could prove deadly

    The National Weather Service is predicting a spike in temperatures this weekend, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s along the Interstate 5 corridor. High heat like this often drives people to seek relief in lakes and rivers across the region, which could be deadly if those who swim, boat or fish are not wearing life jackets.

  • Below average runoff forecasts for upper Missouri River Basin continue

    Runoff continues to be below average in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. Below-normal precipitation, dry soil conditions in the western portions of the basin, and an overall lack of mountain snowpack resulted in a May runoff of 1.6 million acre-feet (MAF), 46% of average.

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