Missouri River Basin informational update

The St. Charles Gauge was read at 25.6 this morning, Flood stage is 25. The short term forecast projects a slight trend down, hovering around flood stage reaching 25.2 on Saturday 7/23.

 

The Herman Gauge, upstream of Chesterfield read 22.99 this morning and also is projected to hold relatively steady. Flood stage is 21 on the Herman guage.

 

Checking further upstream, the Kansas City gauge read 30.69 this morning, below flood stage which is 32 on the KC gauge. River levels are expected to trend slightly up over the next few days, but remain below flood level.

 

Conditions in the upper Missouri Basin appear to be improving. Reservoir levels are actually decreasing and discharge levels are projected to decrease at the Gavin's Point reservoir.

 

Current Weather Conditions in the Missouri Basin

Today through Friday should be fairly dry across the basin with the exception of a few scattered light showers in Nebraska, Northern Kansas, Eastern Iowa and Northern Missouri. As we move into the weekend, parts of eastern Montana and the Dakotas may see pockets of 1/2" to 1" of rainfall. Scattered showers may move into the lower basin after the weekend.

Water Release and Reservoir Information:
The Reservoir Control Center will adjust releases with ever changing conditions. Daily planned releases will be posted each day on the Division website around 4:00-4:30 p.m.

Forecasts for Gavins Point Releases
Current forecasts have Gavins Point releases remaining at 160,000 cfs through July 29th. Releases are planned to be reduced to 155,000 cfs on July 30-31 and then to 150,000 cfs on August 1st. Gavins Point is near its normal operating level near 1206 msl.

Current plans for the reservoirs are as follows:
Fort Peck 35,000 cfs today and hold. Fort Peck continues to decline 0.1- 0.2 ft per day.

Garrison 120,000 cfs today and hold. Garrison has started to decline slowly at a rate of 0.1 feet per day.

Oahe 140,000 cfs today and hold. Oahe is slowly declining about .1 feet per day.

Big Bend 140,000 cfs today and hold. Big Bend is near normal operating level.

Randall 157,000 cfs today, and hold. Randall is falling 0.2-0.3 feet per day.

Peak Releases are expected to stay high well into August.

Releases are based on conditions on the ground and subject to change.

Kansas Reservoirs Releases:
Milford is releasing Minimum Flows
Tuttle Creek is releasing Minimum Flows
Perry is releasing Minimum Flows
Other Reservoirs

Releases from the Truman Reservoir in Missouri are variable based on power production needs. Truman is at minimum releases today.

Releases from the Rathbun Reservoir on the Chariton River 1500 cfs.