Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were recommenced Monday, June 17 after a delay due to the Missouri River gage at Williston's forecast stage of 22.6 feet on June 15. Once river stages dropped below 22 feet, the test flow's second peak resumed but with a lower peak set at Wolf Point, Montana of 20,000 cfs. 2,500 cfs lower than the initially planned peak.
Jun 19, 2024•13 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were scheduled to start increasing this week to 22,000 cfs. However, flow increases are delayed due to the Missouri River gage at Williston's forecast stage of 22.6 feet on June 15. A test protocol halts or delays release increases if the Williston gage is forecast to go about 22 feet.
Jun 13, 2024•27 min
May runoff for the Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 3.5 MAF,104% of average. The annual runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa is 21.0 MAF, 82% of average, and 1.8 MAF higher than last month’s forecast. System storage is currently 55.0 MAF, 1.1 MAF below the top of the carryover multiple use zone. During May, System storage increased 1.0 MAF.
Jun 11, 2024•26 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were lowered to a target of 10,000 cfs (at Wolf Point) and start increasing around mid-June to reach 22,000 cfs. The test is required under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings are aimed at updating the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
Jun 11, 2024•26 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were lowered to a target of 10,000 cfs (at Wolf Point) and start increasing around June 11 reachng 22,000 cfs on June 20. The test is required under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings are aimed at updating the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
May 30, 2024•15 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were lowered to a target of 10,000 cfs (at Wolf Point) and will held through mid-June. The test is required under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings are aimed at updating the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
May 22, 2024•10 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion were lowered to a target of 10,000 cfs (at Wolf Point) and will held through mid-June. The test is required under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings are aimed at updating the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
May 17, 2024•28 min
Spring precipitation in the Missouri River Basin brought some much-needed moisture. April runoff was 2.1 MAF, 71% of average, for the basin above Sioux City, Iowa. The annual runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City is 19.2 MAF, 75% of average, and 1.7 MAF higher than last month’s forecast. Drought conditions in the upper Basin are likely to persist. System storage is 49.9 MAF, 6.2 MAF below the top of the carryover multiple use zone.
May 09, 2024•37 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion are beginning to be lowered to a target of 10,000 cfs on May 9 and held through mid-June. The test is required under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings are aimed at updating the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
May 08, 2024•11 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion began Fri., April 26. The 2018 Biological Opinion requires the test under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. These weekly virtual meetings during the flow test to update the public on test progress, monitoring and planned operations.
May 01, 2024•15 min
Test flows from Fort Peck Dam to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion will begin Fri., April 26. The 2018 Biological Opinion requires the test under the Endangered Species Act for operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host weekly virtual meetings during the flow test to update the public on test progress and planned operations.
Apr 25, 2024•25 min
The latest 2024 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa shows slight improvement. The 2024 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 17.5 million acre-feet (MAF), 68% of average. March runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.8 MAF, 59% of average. Even with the lower than average runoff forecast the hydrologic conditions are sufficient to conduct a flow test from Fort Peck Dam” said Remus. “The flow test is a requirement of the ...
Apr 11, 2024•25 min
A warm February led to increased snowmelt and runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. February runoff was 1.8 million acre-feet, 161% of average with above average runoff in every reach except Sioux City, which was near average. However, the updated 2024 calendar year runoff forecast for the basin continues to be below average.
Mar 08, 2024•38 min
January runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 0.4 million acre-feet, 56% of average. Runoff was well-below-average due to much-below-normal temperatures over the whole Missouri River Basin and below-normal precipitation over most of the upper basin. The 2024 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 18.8 MAF, 73% of average. The runoff forecast is based on current soil moisture conditions, plains snowpack, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature o...
Feb 08, 2024•36 min
As the colder, winter temperatures enter the basin, USACE will closely monitor Missouri River ice conditions between the System reservoirs and downstream of Gavins Point Dam for potential ice jams that could impact river stages and water intakes. Runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 1.1 million acre-feet (MAF) during November, 107% of average. The 2023 calendar year runoff forecast is 29.9 MAF, 116% of average. Average annual runoff is 25.7 MAF.
Jan 22, 2024•40 min
Rainfall in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was above normal for August, resulting in above average runoff. However, due previous years' drier-than-normal conditions leaves the total storage in the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system below normal. Based on the Sept. 1 system storage, Gavins Point Dam winter releases will be 13,000 cfs, per the Master Manual criteria. This call focuses on winter release rates and storage at Fort Peck meeting the criteria for a planned Test F...
Sep 08, 2023•23 min
Above average rainfall and fast-melting snow led to above average runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin in June. Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa was 6.7 million acre-feet, which is 122% of average. The annual runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa is 29.2 MAF, 114% of average, and about 2.4 MAF higher than last month’s forecast. Precipitation was normal to much-above-normal for the month of June in much of Montana, southern and east-central North Dakota, and western South Dakota. Below-normal p...
Jul 17, 2023•37 min
Warm temperatures in the mountainous region of the upper Missouri River Basin has led to a quick melt of the mountain snowpack. The rapid melting combined with precipitation in the western half of the Basin resulted in above-average inflow into the reservoir system. May runoff for the Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 4.9 million acre-feet, 144% of average. "The warm temperatures in the northern Rockies has melted the snow earlier than is typical,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of...
Jun 08, 2023•43 min
Late season plains snowpack accumulation and subsequent melting led to increased runoff throughout the upper Missouri River Basin during April. For the month, runoff was 4.7 million acre-feet, 159% of average, for the basin above Sioux City, IA. The annual runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, IA is 26.9 MAF, 105% of average, and 0.5 MAF higher than last month’s forecast. However, soil moisture remains slightly below normal in eastern Montana and the western Dakota...
May 12, 2023•46 min
The updated 2023 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. The 2023 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 21.5 million acre feet, 84% of average. The runoff forecast is based on current soil moisture conditions, plains snowpack, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature outlooks. February runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City was 1.0 MAF, 86% of average.
Mar 09, 2023•42 min
The updated 2023 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. The 2023 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 21.1 MAF, 82% of average. The runoff forecast is based on current soil moisture conditions, plains snowpack, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature outlooks.
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min
For the 2022 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa totaled 19.3 million acre-feet, 75% of average. This was the 30th lowest annual runoff for the Missouri River Basin in 125 years of record-keeping. The ongoing drought shows little relief in sight and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts runoff into the mainstem reservoir system will remain below normal. For 2023, runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa is forecast to be 20.8 MAF, 81% of average...
Jan 12, 2023•44 min
The September update shows drought conditions in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continued throughout August. Per the Master Manual and the September 1 System storage check, winter releases from Gavins Point Dam will be 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), as part of the overall water conservation measures. August runoff was 0.9 MAF, 62% of average above Sioux City, and 0.6 MAF or 49% of average above Gavins Point Dam. The portion of the basin that drains into Oahe Reservoir was ...
Sep 19, 2022•23 min
This extended water management call includes an update on the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system operations as well as from the Omaha District Drought coordinator. While the Missouri River basin has seen improved runoff for two consecutive months, it is not enough to overcome the long-term drought persisting in much of the basin. July runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 3.2 million acre-feet, which is 98% of average and 0.7 MAF more than was forecast last month. T...
Aug 05, 2022•19 min
Water management calls include an update from the NOAA and the NWS's Missouri Basin River Forecast Center, as well as an update on Missouri River mainstem reservoir system operations. Despite improved runoff in June, conservation measures will continue for the second half of the navigation flow support season based on the July 1 Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System storage. June runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 5.2 million acre-feet, 94%of average. The updated 20...
Jul 07, 2022•43 min
Water management calls include an update from the NOAA and the NWS's Missouri Basin River Forecast Center, as well as an update on Missouri River mainstem reservoir system operations. Runoff continues to be below average in the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. The updated 2022 runoff forecast is 18.3 MAF, 71% of average and 0.5 MAF higher than last month’s annual runoff forecast. If realized, this runoff amount would rank as the 25th lowest calendar year runoff since 1898.
Jun 09, 2022•44 min
Water management calls include an update from the NOAA and the NWS's Missouri Basin River Forecast Center, as well as an update on Missouri River mainstem reservoir system operations. Dry conditions in April resulted in well-below average runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin. April runoff was 1.5 million acre-feet, which is 51% of average. The updated 2022 upper Basin runoff forecast is 17.8 MAF, 69% of average, which, if realized, would rank as the 23rd lowest calendar year runoff volume.
May 06, 2022•47 min
The updated 2022 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, continues to be below average. Runoff in February was less than predicted, and lower-than-average runoff is expected to continue in the coming months. Snow accumulation in the plains and the mountains continues to be below average, and the soil moisture remains very low compared to normal. The 2022 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa, has dropped from 21.7 million acre feet last m...
Mar 07, 2022•34 min
The USACE Missouri River Water Management Division held its monthly update call on Thursday, Feb. 3 to discuss current conditions, and the projected operation of the mainstem reservoir system. January’s runoff was slightly above average but 2022's runoff is expected to remain below average with plains and mountain snowpack lagging behind seasonal averages, and soil moisture much drier-than-normal.
Feb 07, 2022•41 min
The USACE Missouri River Water Management Division held its first monthly update call of 2022 on Thursday, Jan. 6 to discuss current conditions, and the projected operation of the mainstem reservoir system. The 2021 calendar year runoff summation for the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 15.2 million acre-feet, 59% of average and the 10th lowest annual runoff for the in 123 years of record-keeping. No callers asked questions.
Jan 14, 2022•43 min
