Runoff continues to be below average in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa. Below-normal precipitation, dry soil conditions in the western portions of the basin, and an overall lack of mountain snowpack resulted in a May runoff of 1.6 million acre-feet (MAF), 46% of average.
“The dry weather conditions persisted across the upper basin during May,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “The absence of snow in the plains and limited precipitation has caused the soils to dry out leading to abnormally dry or drought conditions in 80% of the basin. Mountain snowpack peaked below normal and is melting earlier than usual. As a result, the runoff forecast...
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District Water Management officials forecast significantly increased inflows into Lake Pend Oreille and outflows from Albeni Falls Dam (AFD) due to heavy precipitation from the recent late spring storm combined with the continued melting of snowpack.
MISSOURI RIVER MAINSTEM RESERVOIR DATA Pool Elevation (feet above mean sea level) On May 31 Change in May Water in Storage (1,000 acre-feet) On May 31 % of 1967-2025 Average Change in May Fort Peck 2223.2 +0.3 12,635 87 +32 Garrison 1826.6 -0.5 14,594 83 -153 Oahe 1598.5 -1.6 16,042 86 -429 Big Bend 1421.1 +0.2 1,693 100 +10 Fort Randall 1355.2 +0.1 3,426 90 +21 Gavins Point 1206.3 -0.2 334 90 -6 Total 48,724 86 -525 WATER RELEASES AND ENERGY GENERATION FOR MAY Average Release in 1,000 cfs Releases in 1,000 acre-feet Generation in Million kWh Fort Peck 5.8 354 55 Garrison 16.1 989 143 Oahe 23.0 1,414 207 Big Bend 22.9 1,406 75 Fort Randall 22.4 1,376 147 Gavins Point 24.3 1,495 69 Total 696
B-roll footage (no narration) of the McNary Lock and Dam Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center in Walla Walla District. The clips show the process of sampling smolts through the fish ladders in the visitor center. Additionally, video clips depict various species, both native and invasive at the Oregon Fish Viewing room.
