OMAHA, Neb. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin Water Management Division has announced plans to step up releases from Gavins Point Dam.  Gavins Point releases were reduced from 44,000 to 24,000 cfs in mid-June due to high flows downstream of the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system.  “Gavins Point releases will be stepped up over several days in the coming week as downstream flows drop off, reaching approximately 50,000 cfs by early to mid-July,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.  “Due to the amount of water in storage, releases from all of the System dams will be maintained at higher-than-average rates over the next several months.”

System storage is currently 67.5 MAF, occupying 11.4 MAF of the 16.3 MAF flood control zone.  “About 30 percent of the System’s flood storage remains available to capture runoff,” said Remus.  System storage is expected to peak in mid-July. 

Fort Randall Dam releases will be increased approximately one day ahead of the scheduled Gavins Point release changes.  Releases at Oahe and Big Bend will also be increased over the next several weeks.

Garrison Dam releases are expected to remain at 60,000 cfs into July.  “Widespread rains across much of the Missouri River Basin have led to sustained above average inflows into the upper two dams, Fort Peck and Garrison,” said Remus.  The Garrison reservoir is currently at elevation 1852.7 feet, 2.7 feet into the Exclusive Flood Control Zone, which extends from elevation 1850 to 1854 feet.  The reservoir is expected to peak near elevation 1853.1 feet next week.  The maximum power plant release is 41,000 cfs, therefore, releases are being made from both the powerhouse and the regulating tunnels.        

Fort Peck Dam releases were reduced from 20,000 cfs to 16,000 cfs this week to help reduce inflows into Garrison reservoir.  Releases are expected to return to 20,000 cfs late next week.  The current release is in excess of the powerplant capacity so releases are being made from both the powerhouse and spillway. The reservoir is currently at elevation 2247.2 feet, 1.2 feet above the base of the Exclusive Flood Control Zone, which extends from elevation 2246 to 2250 feet.  The reservoir is expected to peak near elevation 2248.2 feet in about the next two weeks. 

The mountain snowpack peaked April 19 in the Fort Peck reach and on April 15 in the Fort Peck to Garrison reach.  As of June 25, both reaches have 0.7 inches or less of snow water equivalent remaining.  View the mountain snowpack graphic here: http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/snow.pdf.

Weekly updates on basin conditions, reservoir levels and other topics of interest can be viewed here: http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/pdfs/weeklyupdate.pdf.

To view the detailed three-week release forecast for the mainstem dams, go to http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/twregfcast.pdf.

The Corps will continue to monitor basin and river conditions, including rainfall and mountain snowmelt, and will adjust the regulation of the System based on the most up-to-date information.