The US Army Corps of Engineers’ updated 2021 runoff forecast for the Upper Missouri River Basin (above Sioux City, Iowa) continues to be below average.
Chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division John Remus says despite runoff being slightly above average in January, both the plains snowpack and mountain snowpack continue to lag behind seasonal averages. He says soil moisture also continues to be much drier-than-normal.
Remus says system storage remains slightly below the base of the annual flood control zone. He says the System is in good position to serve all Congressionally authorized purposes– flood control, navigation and water supply– this year.
The 2021 calendar year runoff forecast above Sioux City is 22.9 MAF, 89% of average. The runoff forecast is based on soil moisture conditions, plains snowpack, mountain snowpack, and long-term precipitation and temperature outlooks.
Currently, plains snowpack in the upper Basin is light. Mountain snowpack normally peaks near April 15.
The final Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River Basin for 2020–2021 has been posted at https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/MRWM/Public-Meetings/.
To view the detailed three-week release forecast for the mainstem dams, go to https://go.usa.gov/xARQB.
The Missouri Basin Web App provides links to these reports and others that are updated more frequently at http://go.usa.gov/xE6fC.
The river ice report is available at: http://go.usa.gov/xARQc.
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