JANUARY RUNOFF IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN ABOVE SIOUX CITY WAS ONE MILLION ACRE-FEET, WHICH IS 132% OF AVERAGE.
RUNOFF WAS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR ALL OF THE REACHES IN THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BASIN, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE UPPER BASIN HAD BELOW-NORMAL PRECIPITATION.
THIS WAS DUE TO ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES CAUSING EARLY SNOWMELT.
JOHN REMUS, CHIEF OF THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS’ MISSOURI RIVER BASIN WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION SAYS “RUNOFF INTO THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM WAS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY DESPITE THE DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE BASIN.”
HE SAYS WITH THE BELOW-AVERAGE PLAINS AND MOUNTAIN SNOWPACK THEY ARE FORECASTING A BELOW-AVERAGE RUNOFF YEAR FOR THE BASIN, RESULTING IN REDUCED FLOWS FROM THE RESERVOIRS, PARTICULARLY IN THE UPPER BASIN.”
FILE PHOTO CIVIL AIR PATROL
