US Army Corps of Engineers ®

News Release

OMAHA – With reservoir conditions right, the Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it intends to release a “spring pulse” from the system of Missouri River reservoirs, but not until later this month. This increase is intended to promote spawning of the endangered pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River.

There is currently nearly 38 million acre feet (MAF) of water stored in the large reservoirs. Even though this is above the storage preclude for the pulse, there are other factors that weigh in the decision on the timing of the pulse. These include the temperature of the water below Gavins Point, current and forecasted downstream river flows, and actual and forecasted precipitation. Because of these factors, and in accordance with the Corps’ Master Water Control Manual and 2006 Annual Operating Plan, the pulse will be delayed until later in May.

“The Corps is committed to complying with the Endangered Species Act to protect and recover the pallid sturgeon while continuing to serve the other authorized purposes, especially flood prevention,” said Brig. Gen. Gregg Martin, Northwestern Division commander. “The Corps worked closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service, basin Tribes and stakeholders to develop a plan for spring pulses that benefits the fish with the least possible impact to other users of the river and reservoirs. We must also implement the May pulse in such a manner as to minimize the risk to the endangered and threatened bird species on the river.”

The pulse will not be initiated past May 19. If implemented, it will also take into account the nesting activity of the protected least terns and piping plovers below Gavins Point and Fort Randall dams. Increased nesting activity may prompt the Corps to begin the pulse sooner, to avoid harm to nests and eggs.

Given the reservoir storage and the runoff forecast for the year, the Corps is planning a May pulse of 9,000 cfs. As it travels downstream, river stages are expected to increase around 2.5 feet near Omaha and taper off to about a foot in central Missouri. After a two-day peak, releases will be gradually reduced over the next 10 days until they reach the level necessary to maintain minimum service flows. Additionally, the downstream “flow limits” in the Master Manual act as triggers for reducing releases during higher downstream river levels. They are 41,000 cfs at Omaha, 47,000 cfs at Nebraska City and 71,000 cfs at Kansas City.

“For real-time regulation, we prepare a 14-day river flow forecast that includes actual precipitation figures and National Weather Service precipitation forecasts,” said Larry Cieslik, Chief of Water Management here. “The pulse would be reduced in size or eliminated if our forecast shows its implementation would exceed the downstream flow limits. This will greatly reduce the risk of interior drainage flooding to farmland due to the pulse.”

The Corps is also conducting a comprehensive survey of the height of levee district drainage structures along the river below Sioux City, Iowa. This work will include a self-reporting component so farmers can provide very exact information about the affect of river levels on their drains.

Water was staged in Fort Randall and Gavins Point reservoirs in March and April to supply what is needed for the pulse. This effort will reduce the negative impacts to storage in Oahe reservoir. Over the course of the year, the impact of the pulse will reduce the levels of the upper three reservoirs by around 0.2 of a foot.

The 2003 Amended Biological Opinion published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies pulses in the spring from Gavins Point as part of the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative to avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of the endangered pallid sturgeon.