The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committed to providing frequent communications with stakeholders in the basin. The corps aims to keep the basin informed about reservoir operations, current and forecast weather conditions and reservoir release plans. Congressional delegation members and/or representatives, Tribes, state governments, county and local officials and the media participate on each monthly Missouri River Basin Water Management call.
Brig. Gen. D. Peter Helmlinger is the commander of the Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which maintains oversight for water management responsibilities for the Mainstem Dams on the Missouri River. Runoff in the Missouri Basin was 41 million acre feet in 2018, the third highest runoff in 120 years or recordkeeping.
OMAHA, NE – All 2018 stored flood waters were evacuated from the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system (System) as of Jan. 29. The full 16.3 million acre-feet (MAF) of designated flood control storage is available to manage 2019 runoff. “The System stands ready to capture spring runoff, reducing flood risk while providing support to other authorized project purposes. Current Gavins Point releases are 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and will be decreased to 17,000 cfs by mid-February,” said John Remus, Chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
The latest annual runoff forecast for the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa is 25.6 MAF, slightly more than the long-term average of 25.3 MAF....
OMAHA, NE – All 2018 stored flood waters were evacuated from the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system (System) as of Jan. 29. The full 16.3 million acre-feet (MAF) of designated flood control storage is available to manage 2019 runoff. “The System stands ready to capture spring runoff, reducing flood risk while providing support to other authorized project purposes. Current Gavins Point releases are 20,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) began reducing Gavins Point releases to the winter release rate on December 2. The releases will be stepped down at a rate of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) per day until they reach 20,000 cfs on December 11. Releases are expected to remain at or near 20,000 cfs for the remainder of the winter. Gavins Point Dam winter releases normally range between 12,000 and 17,000 cfs.
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, the service level was increased 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) above full service in late June to facilitate the evacuation of stored flood waters. The increased service level means that Gavins Point releases will be increased to approximately 60,000 cfs, as downstream tributary...
Higher-than-average releases from all Missouri River System projects, including Gavins Point, will continue over the next several months. Gavins Point releases will be adjusted, when needed, in response to basin conditions. When necessary, the Corps will reduce releases 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...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Basin Water Management Division plans to maintain higher-than-average releases from all System projects, including Gavins Point, over the next several months. “Due to higher-than-average runoff being forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, we have increased the service level 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) above full service to facilitate the evacuation of...
The 2018 runoff forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, is 29.0 million acre feet (MAF), 115 percent of normal according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Water Management Division. “The updated forecast increased from last month due to the continued accumulation of mountain and plains snowpack in the upper basin,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division....
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to prepare the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System (System) for the upcoming runoff season. Current Gavins Point Dam releases are 21,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Gavins Point Dam winter releases normally range between 12,000 and 17,000 cfs. The total volume of water stored in the System is currently 56.3 million acre-feet (MAF), occupying 0.2 MAF of the 16.3 MAF combined flood control...
