News Releases

Higher than average releases from Missouri River Mainstem projects to continue through the fall

Published Aug. 7, 2018
The spillway at Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown, South Dakota is being repaired and was not operated during the 2018 runoff season.

The spillway at Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown, South Dakota is being repaired and was not operated during the 2018 runoff season.

On Monday, August 6, releases of 9,000 cubic feet per second were transitioned from the regulating tunnels to the spillway at Garrison Dam near Riverdale, North Dakota.

On Monday, August 6, releases of 9,000 cubic feet per second were transitioned from the regulating tunnels to the spillway at Garrison Dam near Riverdale, North Dakota. The spillway had not operated since 2011. The transition allows an operational test of the repairs made following 2011 the release amount is consistent with the flows released through the regulating tunnels and would not be noticeable downstream.

On Monday, August 6, releases of 9,000 cubic feet per second were transitioned from the regulating tunnels to the spillway at Garrison Dam near Riverdale, North Dakota.

On Monday, August 6, releases of 9,000 cubic feet per second were transitioned from the regulating tunnels to the spillway at Garrison Dam near Riverdale, North Dakota. The spillway had not operated since 2011. The transition allows an operational test of the repairs made following 2011 the release amount is consistent with the flows released through the regulating tunnels and would not be noticeable downstream. Each gate was opened 1 foot.

System storage is currently 67.0 MAF, 10.9 MAF above the base of the Annual Flood Control and Multiple Use Zone.
The storage in the System peaked at 68.4 MAF on July 8th, occupying 12.3 of the 16.3 MAF of designated flood control storage space.

System storage is currently 67.0 MAF, 10.9 MAF above the base of the Annual Flood Control and Multiple Use Zone. The storage in the System peaked at 68.4 MAF on July 8th, occupying 12.3 of the 16.3 MAF of designated flood control storage space. Releases from all System projects will be higher than average during the summer and fall to evacuate all water stored in the designated flood control storage zones. The August precipitation outlook from the CPC indicates slightly increased chances for below-normal precipitation in Kansas and Missouri, slightly increased chances for above-normal precipitation in Wyoming, and equal chances for above-normal, normal, and below-normal precipitation elsewhere in the Basin. Gavins Point releases are expected to be about 58,000 cfs for the next several months, but will be adjusted if downstream conditions warrant.

OMAHA, NE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin Water Management Division plans to maintain higher-than-average releases from all System projects, including Gavins Point, through the summer and fall. “Due to the water currently being stored in the reservoirs and the higher-than-average runoff being forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, Gavins Point releases will remain near 58,000 cfs for the remainder of the navigation season to ensure evacuation of all stored flood waters prior to next year’s runoff season,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

The 2018 runoff forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, is 39.8 million acre feet (MAF), 157 percent of average according to the Corps. July runoff was 5.1 MAF, 155 percent of normal.

The Missouri River mainstem reservoir system (System) storage was 67.4 MAF as of August 1, occupying 11.3 MAF of the 16.3 MAF flood control zone. “System storage peaked on July 8 at 68.4 MAF and is gradually declining. Approximately 30 percent of the System’s flood storage remains available to capture runoff from late summer rainfall events. The current amount of vacant flood control storage provides flexibility to lessen downstream flooding should suddenly-developing large rainfall events occur anywhere in the basin,” said Remus. 

When necessary, the releases will be reduced from the System projects and utilize the available flood control space in the reservoirs, in order to lessen flooding downstream of all the projects. It is important to note that the ability to significantly reduce flood risk along the lower Missouri River diminishes at locations further downstream due to the large uncontrolled drainage area and the travel time from Gavins Point Dam.

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.

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.

Reservoir Forecasts

  • Gavins Point Dam releases averaged 49,600 cfs during July, ranging from 26,000 to 58,000 cfs. Releases will remain near 58,000 cfs during August downstream conditions permitting. The Gavins Point reservoir ended July at elevation 1207.4 feet. The reservoir will end August near 1206.5 feet.
  • Fort Randall Dam releases averaged 48,300 cfs in July. Releases will be adjusted as necessary to maintain the desired reservoir elevation at Gavins Point. Releases are being made from both the powerhouse and outlet tunnels. The reservoir ended July at elevation 1358.1 feet, falling 3.9 feet during the month. The reservoir will gradually fall to near 1356.5 feet during August.
  • Big Bend Dam releases averaged 38,300 cfs in July. Releases are expected to average 54,000 cfs during August. The reservoir will remain near its normal elevation of 1420.0 feet during August.
  • Oahe Dam releases averaged 43,300 cfs during July. Releases are expected to average 53,000 cfs in August. The reservoir ended July at elevation 1617.2 feet, 0.2 feet into the 3-foot Exclusive Flood Control Zone. The reservoir rose 2.9 feet during the month. The reservoir level is expected to peak near its current elevation before beginning to fall, ending August near elevation 1615.9 feet.
  • Garrison Dam releases were stepped down from 60,000 to 54,000 cfs during July averaging 58,700 cfs during the month. Releases were stepped down to 50,000 cfs in early August, and will be further reduced to 46,000 cfs by mid-August. Releases in excess of the powerhouse release were transferred from the outlet tunnels to the spillway on August 6. Transferring releases from the outlet tunnels to the spillway will allow the Corps to inspect the outlet tunnels, and to test the repairs that have been made to the spillway. Releases will be made from the spillway for the next several weeks. Garrison reservoir peaked in early July at 1353.2 feet, 3.2 feet into the 4-foot Exclusive Flood Control Zone. The reservoir ended the month near 1850.7 feet. The reservoir is expected to continue falling ending August near 1846.7 feet.
  • Fort Peck Dam releases averaged 17,400 cfs during July. Releases were decreased from 18,000 to 16,000 cfs near the end of July. Releases will remain at 16,000 cfs during August. Releases will be stepped down to 12,000 cfs around mid-September. Releases are currently greater than the maximum powerhouse release, so releases are being made from both the powerhouse and spillway. The reservoir peaked in early July at 2247.9 feet, 1.9 feet into the 4-foot Exclusive Flood Control Zone. The reservoir ended July at elevation 2246.1 feet. The reservoir is expected to continue falling ending August at 2243.4 feet.

The forecast reservoir releases and elevations discussed above are not definitive. Additional precipitation, lack of precipitation or other circumstances could cause adjustments to the reservoir release rates.

The six mainstem power plants generated 1,336 million kWh of electricity in July. Typical energy generation for July is 943 million kWh. The power plants are projected to generate 13.3 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.3 billion kWh.

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.


MISSOURI RIVER MAINSTEM RESERVOIR DATA

 

Pool Elevation
(feet above mean sea level)

Water in Storage
(1,000 acre-feet)

 

On July 31

Change in July

On July 31

% of 1967-2017 Average

Change in July

Fort Peck

2246.1

-1.4

17,518

121

-334

Garrison

1850.7

-2.1

22,228

125

-780

Oahe

1617.2

+2.9

21,938

124

+1028

Big Bend

1420.8

+0.4

1,687

99

+29

Fort Randall

1358.1

-3.9

3,676

110

-337

Gavins Point

1207.4

-0.3

359

91

-5

 

 

Total

67,406

122

-399


WATER RELEASES AND ENERGY GENERATION FOR JULY

 

Average Release in 1,000 cfs

Releases in 1,000 acre-feet

Generation in Million kWh

Fort Peck

17.4

1,069

121

Garrison

58.7

3,611

400

Oahe

43.3

2,663

419

Big Bend

38.3

2,353

129

Fort Randall

48.3

2,970

186

Gavins Point

49.6

3,048

81

 

Total

1,336

 

 


Contact
Eileen Williamson
402-996-3802
eileen.l.williamson@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-050