MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM RESERVOIR SYSTEM
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY FOR WEEK ENDING 31JUL98
AND THREE-WEEK PROJECTION
Typical summer weather patterns were experienced throughout the
Missouri River basin during the past week as thunderstorms dumped
locally heavy rains over portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas,
and Missouri. The heaviest and most widespread rain occurred last
weekend in eastern Kansas and Missouri and again last night across
northern Kansas and central Missouri. Temperatures were cooled with
the passage of several cold fronts and are below normal for this
time of year. The forecast calls for scattered showers and
thunderstorms for much of the lower basin today with gradually
warming temperatures.
Gavins Point releases, which had been at 30,000 cfs since 10 July
were increased on 25 July to 31,000 cfs to meet the Sioux City
navigation target. Prior to the June flooding, the release rate
had been set at 32,000 cfs which, in mid-May, was the amount of
system release forecasted to meet a Kansas City navigation target in
August. There are four tows operating on the river this week
compared to four to five tows last year at this time. Drafts range
from 8.6 to 9.2 feet.
Main stem system storage is at 62.4 MAF, a decrease of 0.1 MAF from
last week and 5.3 MAF above the base of annual flood control (57.1
MAF). This represents 30 percent of the total annual and exclusive
flood control storage occupied. The storage appears to have crested
and, unless a significant rainstorm occurs, should begin to
gradually fall. System inflow for the week ending 27 July was 0.5
MAF, 72 percent of normal. Only Gavins Point had an inflow over 200
percent and Fort Randall was only 9 percent of normal. System
inflow for the month of June was 5.0 MAF, 94 percent of normal and
0.2 MAF more than forecast. The CY 1998 runoff forecast is 23.7 MAF,
96 percent of normal.
We will run a new CY98 runoff forecast for the main stem system on
Monday. The system stands ready to store a major flood event should
one occur above the system during the remainder of 1998.
Streams are generally falling except where significant rains have
occurred and even then only moderate rises are noted. The Big Blue
River is expected to be high but the tern and plovers have fledged
below Tuttle Creek so increases from this project will be increased
immediately. Over 6 inches of rain was indicated in the upper Big
Blue basin yesterday. Nebraska City stage is below 12 feet. This
is a river level that has not been reached during the summer for any
length of time since 1994 and is a good indication that in the Omaha
District tributary flows are drying up and dropping significantly.
System generation totaled 201,900 MWh this week, very near what was
scheduled. Weekday generation increased from 30,000 MWh to 31,000
MWh this week now that Lake Francis Case is back near its normal
summer elevation of 1355 feet msl. The 31,000 MWh weekday
generation will continue into next week. Hydropower production was
about 87 percent of normal this past week.
Endangered bird reproduction remains good this year. Hydropower
release constraints remain in place to safeguard chicks and nests.
Forecasts of pool elevations and discharges for specific dates in
the next 3-week period are as follows:
DATE FTPK GARR OAHE BEND FTRA GAPT
ELEVATION IN FEET MSL
4-Aug-98 2240 1843 1612 1421 1355 1206
9-Aug-98 2240 1843 1612 1421 1355 1206
14-Aug-98 2240 1843 1612 1420 1356 1206
19-Aug-98 2240 1843 1612 1420 1355 1206
RELEASES - 1,000 CFS
4-Aug-98 10 24 27 32 27 31
9-Aug-98 10 24 23 9 27 31
14-Aug-98 10 24 27 32 28 31
19-Aug-98 10 24 27 32 29 32
CHIEF, RESERVOIR CONTROL CENTER
LAWRENCE J. CIESLIK, P.E.
Pagemaster: Mike Swenson; CENWD-MR-ET-R;
Internet E-Mail Address: swenson@h2o.mrd.usace.army.mil
Document Date: 12-Feb-98