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Missouri River Water Management News

Dry conditions persist in Missouri River basin

2/7/2013
The updated runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River basin continues to indicate less-than-normal runoff in 2013.

Corps anticipates continued dry conditions through spring

1/8/2013
With no relief in sight from the ongoing drought, the Corps is predicting runoff into the mainstem reservoir system will remain below normal, at least through spring

Corps reduces Gavins Point Dam releases

1/3/2013
With the return to milder weather conditions across the Missouri River basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin gradually reducing reservoir releases from the current rate of 18,000 cubic feet per second back down to the previously set winter release rate of 14,000 cfs.

Incoming cold weather prompts Corps to increase releases from Gavins Point dam

12/18/2012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin Water Management Division plans to step up Gavins Point dam releases by 4,000 cubic feet per second this week in response to colder temperatures moving into the region. Releases will be increased from 14,000 cfs to 16,000 cfs on Wednesday, December 19, and to 18,000 cfs on Thursday, December 20. We will monitor the situation closely and make additional adjustments if necessary to maintain intakes along the lower river. We anticipate that releases from Gavins Point will be maintained at 18,000 cfs until early January.

Gavins Point releases begin scheduled decrease as navigation season closes

12/7/2012
Gavins Point releases are currently being stepped down to minimum winter release levels as drought conditions persist throughout the Missouri River basin. Releases were set at 37,500 cubic feet per second near mid-November to meet the navigation flow targets on the Missouri River. After the navigation season ended, releases were stepped down reaching 16,000 cfs on December 5. Releases from Gavins Point will continue to be gradually reduced and will be targeted at the minimum level of 12,000 cfs this winter to conserve water in the reservoir system.

Corps to begin drought conservation measures

11/6/2012
Water releases out of Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D. will be decreased to minimum winter levels beginning the third week of November.

Corps offers snapshot of remaining vulnerabilities in Missouri River Basin

10/12/2012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released its findings regarding remaining vulnerabilities in the Missouri River Basin following the Flood of 2011.

Continued drought conditions result in lowest September inflows on record

10/4/2012
The Missouri River basin continued to experience drought conditions throughout September with record low inflows into the mainstem reservoir system (totaling just under 0.3 million acre feet).

Corps to hold Missouri River Fall Public Meetings for Draft Annual Operating Plan

10/1/2012
The Northwestern Division will hold its fall public meetings in six cities throughout the basin beginning Oct. 29 to discuss the 2012-2013 Draft Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System.

Continued dry basin conditions result in drought conservation measures

9/7/2012
Drought conditions in the Missouri River basin expanded during the month of August resulting in reduced inflows to the six Missouri River Mainstem reservoirs.

Mississippi River Commission schedules low-water inspection trip

8/7/2012
The Mississippi River Commission will conduct a low-water inspection trip in the Missouri River Basin starting in Bismarck, North Dakota and traveling the river to Washington, Missouri August 12-16, 2012.

Runoff forecast continues to decline as dry basin conditions persist

8/6/2012
The below normal runoff forecast trend continues for the Missouri River basin as conditions remain drier and warmer than normal. In its August forecast, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects the 2012 annual runoff to total 21 million acre-feet above Sioux City, Iowa (85 percent of normal).

Corps: July runoff forecast reflects continued warmer, drier than normal conditions

7/5/2012
Warmer and drier than normal conditions in the upper Missouri River basin are reflected in the July runoff forecast, which indicates below normal runoff for the remainder of 2012. The current calendar year forecast is 21.4 million acre-feet (87 percent of normal) above Sioux City, Iowa.

Missouri River basin calendar year forecast remains below normal

6/5/2012
The calendar year forecast for the basin above Sioux City, Iowa remains below normal at 22.2 million acre-feet, 89 percent of normal.

Latest Corps forecast predicts below normal runoff into Missouri River mainstem reservoirs

5/4/2012
Warm, dry weather during March and April resulted in below normal runoff into the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Management Division, nearly a year after the upper basin experienced a flood of record with historic runoff and record releases from the reservoirs. Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa in April was 63 percent of normal. When coupled with the long-term forecasts for summer precipitation in the upper basin, the result is a below normal runoff forecast for calendar year 2012.

Corps to conduct spillway test at Gavins Point Dam

4/30/2012
A spillway test for Gavins Point Dam Tuesday, May 1 beginning at 6 a.m. when engineers will begin reducing releases from 26,000 cubic feet per second to 12,000 cfs.

Corps to cut Gavins Point releases in response to heavy rain

4/15/2012
Reservoir releases from Gavins Point Dam will be reduced from 28,000 cubic feet per second to 22,000 cfs during the next two days in response to the heavy rain that fell over areas in eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa this weekend.

Corps begins April with full capacity of flood control storage, continues monitoring weather conditions

4/6/2012
Unusually warm and dry conditions in the Missouri River basin during the month of March resulting in below normal runoff into the mainstem reservoir system for the first time since November 2010. As a result, the total volume of water stored in the reservoir system on April 1 was 56.9 million acre-feet, leaving 16.2 of the 16.3 MAF of flood control storage available.

Corps to hold Missouri River spring public meetings April 16 – April 20

3/16/2012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, will hold a series of public meetings in seven cities throughout the basin beginning April 16 to update the public on current hydrologic conditions in the Missouri River basin and planned regulation of the mainstem reservoirs during the coming months.

Corps begins spring runoff season with full capacity of flood control storage

3/6/2012
The Missouri River mainstem reservoir system enters the spring runoff season well prepared to capture spring runoff with slightly more than its full capacity of flood control storage available.