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.
System storage is 56.1 MAF, at the base of the Annual Flood Control and Multiple Use Zone, which means that all 16.3 MAF of flood storage is available. The upper Basin runoff forecast for 2019 is 28.4 MAF, which is 112% of average. Plains snow conditions vary throughout the upper Basin: moderate in Montana and the western Dakotas, and moderate-to-heavy in the central and eastern Dakotas (upper right graphic). Mountain snowpack accumulation is slightly above average (lower right graphic). The Gavins Point release will be increased to 20,000 cfs later this week.
The 2019 runoff forecast in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, is 28.4 million acre feet (MAF), 112 percent of normal, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Missouri River Water Management Division. “The forecast increased about 10 percent from last month due to the continued accumulation of mountain and plains snowpack in the upper basin. Gavins Point releases will be increased from 18,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 20,000 cfs this week,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
As of March 1, the mountain snowpack was 108 percent of average in the reach above Fort Peck and 103 percent of average in the reach from Fort Peck to Garrison. The mountain snowpack...
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....
