6 Nov 2023

Gavins Point Dam releases to be reduced to winter release rate

Gavins Point Dam releases will be reduced in late November as flow support to navigation ends. Releases are currently 32,000 cubic feet per second. “We will continue to make releases from Gavins Point Dam to provide flow support at an intermediate service level, 1,500 cfs less than full service, through the end of the navigation flow support season,” said John Remus, chief of the USACE, Missouri River Water Management Division.  “The flow support season will end on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River.”

2 Nov 2023

23-052 USACE to rehabilitate and improve Russel Creek Canal

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – This winter, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District will begin a rehabilitation and improvement project on Russel Creek Canal. The canal, a part of the Mill Creek Flood Control Project, is located downstream of Bennington Lake and runs approximately one mile from the lake to Russel Creek.

31 Oct 2023

Reminder for Missouri River Basin fall public meetings

This is a reminder that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host its fall public meeting series for the Missouri River Basin November 7-9, 2023. These public meetings are held each spring and fall across the Missouri River Basin and provide an update on current year's runoff and reservoir operations, as well as planned operations for the next year's runoff season.

27 Oct 2023

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrates 75th anniversary of John Martin Dam

John Martin Dam and Reservoir recently celebrated it's 75-year diamond anniversary.

6 Oct 2023

September runoff near average; Drought conditions continue in Missouri River Basin

The month of September brought mixed results for precipitation across the Missouri River Basin. Portions of Montana, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska received above average rainfall, while the remainder of the upper basin and lower basin were below average. Overall, September runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 1.3 million acre-feet, 109% of the long-term average. The annual runoff forecast for the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, IA is 29.1 MAF, 113% of average and the same as last month’s forecast.

25 Sep 2023

Now Available: Draft Missouri River Operating Plan; Possible Fort Peck test flow; Fall public meeting schedule

Ahead of fall public meetings, the Draft Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Annual Operating Plan for the 2023-2024 runoff season is now available for public comment. The public comment period on the draft plan will close Nov. 30. 

15 Sep 2023

Real-Time Forecasting Model Development Work Plan

Abstract: The objective of the Lowermost Mississippi River Management Program is to move the nation toward more holistic management of the lower reaches of the Mississippi River through the development and use of a science-based decision-making framework. There has been substantial investment in the last decade to develop multidimensional numerical models to evaluate the Lowermost Mississippi River (LMMR) hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and salinity dynamics. The focus of this work plan is to leverage the existing scientific knowledge and models to improve holistic management of the LMMR. Specifically, this work plan proposes the development of a real-time forecasting (RTF) system for water, sediment, and selected nutrients in the LMMR. The RTF system will help inform and guide the decision-making process for operating flood-control and sediment-diversion structures. This work plan describes the primary components of the RTF system and their interactions. The work plan includes descriptions of the existing tools and numerical models that could be leveraged to develop this system together with a brief inventory of existing real-time data that could be used to validate the RTF system. A description of the tasks that would be required to develop and set up the RTF system is included together with an associated timeline.

6 Sep 2023

Gavins Point winter release slightly above minimum rate

Rainfall in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was above normal for the month of August, resulting in above average runoff. However, due to drier-than-normal conditions in previous years, the total storage in the Missouri River mainstem reservoir system remains lower than normal. Based on the Sept. 1 system storage, winter releases from Gavins Point Dam will be 13,000 cubic feet per second, per the criteria in the Master Manual. This release rate is slightly above the minimum rate of 12,000 cfs.

3 Aug 2023

Missouri River Basin drought conditions persist

July runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 3.3 million acre-feet (MAF), 99% of average. Runoff was near or above average in all reaches except the Fort Peck reach, which was 68% of average. The annual runoff forecast above Sioux City, IA is 28.5 MAF, 111% of average.

21 Jul 2023

USACE Fort Worth District awards $48.1M contract for new Wharton levee system

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District announced today the award of a $48.1 million contract to Granite Construction Co., from Watsonville, California, for Phase 1 of a flood risk mitigation levee system to be constructed in Wharton, Texas.