River Management Working Group

Co-Leads:

Kevin Grode, Reservoir Regulation Team Lead, Missouri River Basin Water Management, Northwestern Division, Corps of Engineers

Jim Pennaz, Chief, Hydrologic Engineering Branch, Engineering Division, Kansas City District, Corps of Engineers

Mission:

Establish a common knowledge base about 1) data and forecasting tools used in the development of the Missouri River Basin inflow forecast, 2) additional facilities needed to provide flood risk reduction for the 2011 flood, and 3) the operational flexibility within the Missouri River Mainstem Master Manual; and from this common knowledge identify gaps and areas for improvement.

Areas of focus:

1. Data and forecasting tools used in the development of the Missouri River Basin inflow forecast



1. Better understanding of proper use for short-term and long-term forecasting tools (NOAA products), and feedback on if these products are helpful
2. Description of how 10-30-60-90 day-out precipitation and temperature outlooks are used for planning purposes vs. operational decision-making
3. Early warning and real-time flood info – how is that best disseminated to ensure that stakeholders receive information on a timely basis?
4. Accurate assessment of plains and mountain snowpack and consequent potential runoff
5. Other drivers such as antecedent soil moisture conditions and soil frost depth
6. Improved runoff forecasts so we can plan, prepare, and respond better
7. Does a + b + c + d + e = f?
8. Monthly summation of runoff forecasts for everyone on the MRFTF



2. Additional facilities needed to provide flood risk reduction for the Missouri River Basin based on the flood of 2011 and impacts to other authorized purposes



1. Increase the conveyance capacity of the river?
1. Reposition dikes
2. Remove dikes
3. Removal of vegetation
4. Sedimentation in tributaries


2. Increase system storage?
1. reallocation of existing storage
2. creating additional storage in existing projects
3. build new dam(s)



3. Examine the Missouri River Mainstem Master Manual operational flexibility that allows for flood risk reduction



1. Can we alter flows this spring to mitigate flood damage to unstable structures?
2. Can navigation flows be lower this year?
3. Can there be more aggressive releases early in the runoff season to create additional storage?

Webinars:

1. Jan 4th - River Conveyance

Chance Bitner, Chief Hydraulics/Hydrology Section, Kansas City District, Corps of Engineers.

• Discusses a study conducted by the Corps of Engineers in 2008 on levee setbacks, channel widening, and other methods to increase conveyance capacity of the Missouri River from Boonville to Jefferson City, MO.
2. Jan 18 2012 – River Aggradation and Degradation

Shelley, River Engineering and Restoration Section, USACE Kansas City District “Assessing Changes to the River Channel – Bed Degradation Feasibility Study”

Pridal, Chief of Sedimentation and Channel Stabilization Office, USACE Omaha District “Missouri River Reservoir System Sediment Overview”

Korkow, Executive Director of the Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition, “Accumulating Sediment Diminishes System Benefits”

3. Feb 10 2012 – Development of the 2012 Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System Runoff Forecast

Kevin Stamm, Senior Hydraulic Engineer, USACE Missouri River Basin Water Management office.

• Explains the data the Corps uses to determine its inflow forecast, much of which is provided by partner agencies
• Reviews the February 1 2012 monthly inflow forecast



4. April 18, 2012 -
Analysis of Missouri River Mainstem Flood Control Storage

Kevin Grode, P.E., Reservoir Regulation Team Lead, Missouri River Basin Water Management; MRFTF River Management Work Group Lead

• Discusses the results of Corps' system storage report to determine the potential effect of additional flood control storage on 2011 releases and evaluate potential economic impacts of alternative flood control scenarios.

Full report is available at: Post 2011 Flood Event Analysis of Mainstem Flood Control Storage




5. April 25, 2012 – Channel Conveyance

James Pennaz, Chief, Hydrologic Engineering Branch, Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; MRFTF River Management Work Group Co-Lead

• Discusses increasing channel conveyance and summarizes Work Group conversations to-date.
• Presentation
• Draft Information Paper



6. May 2, 2012 -
Improving Accuracy of Runoff Forecasts

Kevin Grode, P.E., Reservoir Regulation Team Lead, Missouri River Basin Water Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; MRFTF River Management Work Group Co-Lead

• Discusses increasing inflow forecast accuracy and summarizes Work Group conversations on this topic to-date.