News Release
| Release Number: | 08-017 |
| Dated: | 10/7/2008 |
| Contact: | Paul T Johnston, 402-697-2552 |
OMAHA –Releases from the Missouri River reservoir system will be gradually reduced in October, ending the month at less than half the current rate.
“The last day of commercial navigation flow support will be Oct. 31 at the mouth near St. Louis, Mo., a 30-day shortening from the normal Nov. 30 date, as we continue to help conserve water in the system of six reservoirs. They have been hit hard by extended drought in much of the basin,” said Larry Cieslik, Chief of the Water Management office here. “This lower release schedule mirrors the operation we’ve had in recent years. It will continue until the onset of cold weather when releases are typically increased to support downstream water intakes,” he said.
Runoff for 2008 is forecast to total 25.9 million acre feet (MAF). Normal is 25 MAF. The storage in the reservoirs dropped slightly in September, ending at 44.5 MAF. It is forecast to total 44.7 MAF on March 1, 2009.
Gavins Point Dam releases will be reduced by 3,000 cfs per day beginning on Oct. 20 to end support for the navigation season. They will be cut to the 9,000 cfs level or those required allowing downstream intakes to remain operational.
The draft 2008-09 Annual Operating Plan has been released for review and comment. It contains a detailed description of continued drought conservation measures resulting in reduced navigation support, reduced hydropower generation, lower than desired reservoir levels, and spring pulses from Gavins Point Dam in both March and May.
It is available on the “Reports and Publications” section of the Water Management website, http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc, and is available in hard copy by writing to: Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1616 Capitol Ave, Suite 365, Omaha, NE 68102-4909. Comments on the draft plan will be taken during the series of public meetings and in writing and via e-mail through November 21. E-mailed comments should be sent to : Missouri.Water.Management@nwd02.usace.army.mil.
Six public meetings on the draft AOP will be conducted in October:
Oct. 14 – Nebraska City, Neb. 7 p.m., Lewis & Clark Center
Oct 15 – Kansas City, Mo, 11 a.m., Embassy Suites Airport
Oct 15 – Jefferson City, Mo. 7 p.m., Capitol Plaza Hotel
Oct 16 – Fort Peck, Mont. Noon, Fort Peck Interpretative Center
Oct 16 – Bismarck, N.D. 7 p.m., Radisson Hotel
Oct 17 – Pierre, S.D. 11 a.m., Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Gavins Point releases averaged 20,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) in September. They are expected to average 18,100 cfs in October as they are significantly reduced. The average release for the month is 35,700 cfs.
Fort Randall releases averaged 19,600 cfs in September. They will be adjusted in October as necessary to maintain Gavins Point reservoir near its desired elevation. The Fort Randall reservoir level fell 9 feet in September and will fall an additional 5 feet this month on its way to 1337.5 feet. The reservoir is drawn down each fall to ready it to accept hydropower releases over the winter 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 just over half a foot in September, ending at elevation 1593.1 feet msl. Releases in October will average 11,500 cfs, compared to the long-term average of 24,000 cfs. The reservoir will remain near its current level through October, ending near elevation 1592.8 feet msl. That is 6.1 feet below its normal elevation. The reservoir is currently nearly 12 feet higher than it was last year at this time.
Garrison reservoir remained essentially level in September, ending at elevation 1825.6 feet. Releases averaged 12,600 cfs during September, compared to the long-term average of 20,700 cfs. They were reduced from the summer rate of 14,000 cfs to the fall rate of 11,000 cfs in mid-September The reservoir is expected to remain essentially level this month, ending at 1825.4 feet, 10.6 feet below normal. The reservoir is currently 11.9 feet higher than last year at this time.
Fort Peck reservoir remained level in September, ending at elevation 2209.3 feet msl. Releases averaged 6,100 cfs, compared to the long-term average of 8,900 cfs. They were dropped the third week of September to the fall rate of 4,000 cfs where they will be maintained through October and November. The reservoir will remain level through the month, ending at elevation 2209.5 feet, 21.3 feet below normal. It is currently 9 feet higher than last year at this time.
The six main stem power plants generated 450 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in September, only 50 percent of normal because of lower pool levels and reduced releases from the dams. Total energy production for 2008 is forecasted to be 4.9 billion kWh, compared to the average of 10 billion kWh.