News Release
| Release Number: | 08-020 |
| Dated: | 11/7/2008 |
| Contact: | Paul T Johnston, 402-697-2552 |
OMAHA –With the shortened commercial navigation season and moderate temperatures throughout the basin, releases from the Missouri River reservoir system are about a third of the normal rate for November.
“The last day of commercial navigation flow support was Oct. 31 at the mouth near St. Louis, Mo., a 30-day shortening from the normal Nov. 30 date. We continue to help conserve water in the system of six reservoirs with significantly lower releases,” said Larry Cieslik, Chief of the Water Management office here. “This is the same operation we’ve had in recent years. It will continue until the onset of cold weather when releases are typically increased to provide continued support to downstream water intakes,” he said.
Runoff for 2008 is forecast to total 26.3 million acre feet (MAF). Normal is 25 MAF. The storage in the reservoirs dropped slightly in October, ending at 44.3 MAF. It is forecast to total 45 MAF on March 1, 2009.
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 can be made in writing and via e-mail through November 21. E-mailed comments should be sent to: Missouri.Water.Management@nwd02.usace.army.mil.
Gavins Point releases averaged 18,200 cubic feet per second (cfs) in October. They will be held at the 9,000 cfs level this month or adjusted for cold temperatures to allow downstream intakes to remain operational. The average release for the month is 31,300 cfs.
Fort Randall releases averaged 15,500 cfs in October. They will be adjusted in November as necessary to maintain Gavins Point reservoir near its desired elevation. The annual drawdown of Fort Randall reservoir for winter hydropower production will continue in November, with the level ending at 1339 feet.
Big Bend reservoir will remain in its normal range of 1420 to 1421 feet. Releases will be adjusted to meet hydropower needs.
Oahe reservoir fell a foot in October, ending at elevation 1592 feet msl. Releases in November will average only 4,800 cfs to fine-tune the pool levels of the lower three reservoirs going into the winter. This release rate is compared to the long-term average of 22,700 cfs. The reservoir will rise 1.4 feet through November, ending near elevation 1593.4 feet msl, 5.1 feet below its normal elevation. The reservoir is currently 11.1 feet higher than it was last year at this time.
Garrison reservoir remained essentially level in October, ending at elevation 1825.8 feet. Releases averaged 11,000 cfs during the month, compared to the long-term average of 19,000 cfs. The reservoir is expected to remain essentially level this month, ending at 1826.1 feet, 8.7 feet below normal. The reservoir is currently 12.7 feet higher than last year at this time.
Fort Peck reservoir remained essentially level in October, ending at elevation 2209.8 feet msl. Releases averaged 4,100 cfs, compared to the long-term average of 8,200 cfs. The reservoir will gain about half a foot through the month, ending at elevation 2210.2 feet, 20.2 feet below normal. It is currently 10.2 feet higher than last year at this time.
The six main stem power plants generated 439 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in October, only 53 percent of normal because of lower pool levels and reduced releases from the dams. Total energy production for 2008 is forecasted to be 5 billion kWh, compared to the average of 10 billion kWh.