US Army Corps of Engineers
BUILDING STRONG.
Corps continues drought conservation measures, Annual Operating
Plan meetings announced
Posted 91612013
Release no. 20130906-001
Contact:Michael Coffey 503-808-3722
michael.a.coffey@usace.army.mil
Omaha, Neb.- Drought conditions continue to impact a large portion of the upper Missouri River Basin.
While runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa during the month of August was slightly
above normal (1 07 percent of normal), the calendar year runoff forecast remains below normal at 23.1
million acre feet (91 percent of normal).
"Reservoir levels at the upper three large reservoirs, Fort Peck, Garrison and Oahe, are 3 to 9 feet below
their desired elevations," said Mike Swenson, team leader in the Missouri River Basin Water
Management office. The total volume of water stored in the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System
at the end of August was 52.7 million acre feet (MAF). The base of the flood control and multiple use
zone is 56.1 MAF.
Based on the September 1 storage check, drought conservation measures will again be implemented this
winter. " Winter releases from Gavins Point will be at minimum levels, averaging near 12,000 cfs from
December through February. Temporary increases above 12,000 cfs will be provided during periods of
ice formation to keep water intakes along the lower river operational." When the reservoir system is full,
Gavins Point winter releases are generally scheduled near 17,000 cfs, or higher if flood water is being
evacuated.
The Corps previously announced it is providing a full 8-month navigation season based on the July 1
storage check. Flow support for navigation during the second half of the season increased 3,000 cfs from
the minimum service level provided in the first half of the season. Full service level is 6,000 cfs above the
minimum service level. Minimum service flow support is generally sufficient to provide a navigation
channel that is 8 feet deep by 200 feet wide, and full service flow support provides a navigation channel 9
feet deep and 300 feet wide.
"In early August, conditions were wet in the lower portion ofthe basin allowing us to reduce Gavins Point
releases. However, dry conditions have returned and Gavins Point releases have gradually been increased
to meet navigation targets," said Swenson.
The Corps will continue to monitor basin conditions and fine tune the regulation of the reservoir system
based on the most up-to-date information.
Public Meetings
The Corps will hold its fall public meetings in five cities throughout the basin in early October to discuss
the 2013-2014 Draft Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River Mainstem System. The public meeting
will include a presentation from the Corps regarding 2013 operations and plans for regulating the
reservoir system in 2014 followed by a question and answer session.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Kansas City, Missouri, 1 p.m.
National Archives Building
400 W. Pershing Road
Nebraska City, Nebraska, 7 p.m.
Lewis and Clark Center
100 Valmont Drive
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Fort Peck, Montana, 7 p.m.
Fort Peck Interpretive Center
Lower Yellowstone Road
Thursday, Oct. 10
Bismarck, North Dakota, 11 a.m.
North Dakota Game and Fish
100 N. Bismarck Expressway
Pierre, South Dakota, 5 p.m.
Joe Foss Building
523 East Capitol Avenue
Reservoir Forecasts
Gavins Point releases ranged from 20,000 cfs to 32,000 cfs in August, averaging 24,500 cfs. The reservoir
behind Gavins Point Dam ended August at elevation 1206.3 feet msl. The reservoir will gradually rise to
its normal fall pool elevation of 1207.5 feet msl in September.
Fort Randall releases ranged from 18,000 cfs to 33,000 cfs during August, averaging 23 ,700 cfs. Fort
Randall releases will be adjusted during September as necessary to maintain the desired elevation at
Gavins Point. The reservoir ended August at elevation 1355.4 feet msl, up 0.9 feet during the month. The
reservoir is expected to decrease nearly two feet this month, ending September near elevation 1353.5 feet
msl. The reservoir is normally drawn down to 1337.5 feet in the fall to provide space for winter
hydropower generation at Oahe and Big Bend. The annual drawdown will continue in October and
November.
Big Bend releases averaged 22,000 cfs during the month of August. They are expected to average near
30,000 cfs this month. The reservoir will remain near its normal elevation of 1420 feet msl during
September.
Oahe releases averaged 24,200 cfs during the month of August. Releases are expected to average near
30,000 cfs this month. The reservoir ended August at elevation 1601.5 feet msl, down 1.1 feet during the
month. The reservoir is expected to drop more than 3 feet during the month of September.
Garrison releases average 19,200 cfs in August. Releases will remain at 19,000 cfs until mid-September
and then be decreased to 13,000 cfs. Garrison ended August at elevation 1834.6 feet msl, down 1.5 feet
from the end of July. It is expected to drop less than 1 foot during September.
Fort Peck releases averaged 8,000 cfs in August. Releases will remain at 8000 cfs until mid-September
and then be reduced to 5,000 cfs. The reservoir ended August at elevation 2225.1 feet msl, down 1.1 feet
from the previous month. The reservoir is forecast to drop less than I foot during September.
The forecast reservoir releases and elevations discussed above should not be assumed to be definitive.
Additional precipitation or lack of precipitation in the basin could cause adjustments to the reservoir
release rates.
The six mainstem power plants generated 774 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in August.
Typical energy generation for the month of August is 1006 million kWh. The power plants are projected
to generate 7.6 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the normal of 10 billion kWh.