News Release
| Release Number: | 06-021 |
| Dated: | 11/10/2006 |
| Contact: | Paul T Johnston, 402-697-2552 |
OMAHA – Releases from Gavins Point Dam were increased slightly in late November to keep municipal and utility intakes operating as poor runoff and freezing temperatures reduced tributary flows into the Missouri River
“The combination of cold temperatures and lack of runoff pushed the reservoir system to a record-low storage of 34.6 million acre feet (MAF) on Nov. 30,” said Larry Cieslik, Chief of the Water Management office here. Reservoir storage is expected to remain relatively level the rest of the year.
Because of drought-depleted reservoirs, the main stem powerplants continue to produce less than normal hydropower. To make up for the lower generation, the Western Area Power Administration, which markets the power produced by the dams, had to purchase additional electricity to meet its contract obligations to utilities throughout the upper Midwest.
The draft 2006-07 Annual Operating Plan was published in late September. It is available on the Northwestern Division website at: http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/aop.html.
A series of public meetings to review, discuss and take comments on the draft plan were conducted in October from Fort Peck, Mont., to St. Louis, Mo. The final plan will be published late this month.
Releases from Gavins Point Dam averaged 11,400 cfs in November compared to the normal 32,400 cfs. The reservoir will remain near its current elevation of 1207.5 feet above mean sea level (msl) during December. Releases will average 12,500 cfs, compared to the long-term average of 19,800 cfs.
Fort Randall releases averaged 19,900 cfs in November. They will be adjusted in December as necessary to maintain Gavins Point reservoir near its desired elevation. Fort Randall reservoir will climb about 4 feet as it captures the hydropower releases from Big Bend and Oahe dams.
Big Bend reservoir will remain in its normal range of 1420 to 1421 feet. Releases will be adjusted to meet hydropower needs.
Oahe reservoir rose half a foot in November, ending at elevation 1573.2 feet msl. The reservoir is expected to remain near its current level in December, ending the month near elevation 1573 feet. That is 2.8 feet above its record low level of 1570.2 feet set on Aug. 30, but nearly 26 feet below its normal elevation. The reservoir is 2.3 feet lower than it was last year at this time.
Garrison releases averaged 13,100 cfs during November compared to the long-term average of 20,400 cfs. Releases will be maintained near 15,500 cfs through December, compared to the average of 20,700 cfs. Garrison reservoir dropped half a foot in November, ending the month at 1809 feet, and is expected to decline a foot in December, ending at 1808.1 feet. It will end the month 26.4 feet below normal. The reservoir is 4 feet lower than last year at this time.
Fort Peck releases averaged 7,200 cfs in November, compared to the long-term average of 8,700 cfs, and will be maintained at 9,500 cfs this month, slightly below the average of 9,800 cfs. The reservoir fell 1.2 feet in November, ending at elevation 2201.3 feet msl. It will fall 1.7 feet in December, ending the month at elevation 2199.6 feet, about 28 feet below normal. It is currently 2.4 feet lower than last year at this time. The reservoir is forecast to reach a record low of 2196.8 feet at the end of February, surpassing the previous record of 2198.3 feet set in January 2005
The six main stem power plants generated 358 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in November, only 46 percent of normal because of lower pool levels and reduced releases from the dams. The forecast for energy production in 2006 is 6.3 billion kWh, compared to the average of 10 billion kWh.