Spring fish passage operations began April 3 at federal dams on the lower Snake River and will begin April 10 on the lower Columbia River.
The timing follows requirements in NOAA Fisheries’ 2014 Supplemental Biological Opinion and recent U.S. District Court orders.
This year’s operations call for increased spill — sending more water over dam spillways — up to 125% of state water quality limits in Oregon and Washington for total dissolved gas.
Water supply forecasts for 2026 show near-normal conditions in the Columbia River Basin and below-normal conditions in the Snake River Basin. The April-through-August forecast is 93% of normal at The Dalles Dam and 73% of normal for April through July at Lower Granite Dam.
Higher river...
04.08.2026 | PORTLAND, OREGON, US |
Story by Matt Rabe
MISSOURI RIVER MAINSTEM RESERVOIR DATA Pool Elevation (feet above mean sea level) On March 31 Change in March Water in Storage (1,000 acre-feet) On March 31 % of 1967-2024 Average Change in March Fort Peck 2222.3 +0.3 12,506 89 +73 Garrison 1827.3 -0.2 14,790 87 -52 Oahe 1601.4 -0.5 16,943 95 -54 Big Bend 1420.4 -0.4 1,665 98 -7 Fort Randall 1353.9 +4.2 3,319 90 +345 Gavins Point 1206.1 -0.4 331 92 -6 Total 49,554 91 +299 WATER RELEASES AND ENERGY GENERATION FOR MARCH Average Release in 1,000 cfs Releases in 1,000 acre-feet Generation in Million kWh Fort Peck 4.9 302 46 Garrison 16.0 984 140 Oahe 20.8 1,277 191 Big Bend 20.8 1,280 70 Fort Randall 15.5 951 101 Gavins Point 17.3 1,066 47 Total 595
A public meeting to discuss Missouri River Water Management operations and plans was held April 7 in Smithville, Missouri. The meeting was in-person and virtual. Spring public meetings provide a status of mountain snowpack, a runoff forecast for the year, and how operations during the runoff year will meet the authorized purposes for the Missouri River Mainstem System. Updates include a discussion from the National Weather Service regarding mountain snowpack, lingering drought and the System's ability to capture runoff and how releases will be made to serve the authorized purposes.
