By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Flows into the Missouri River from the six upstream reservoirs have improved as drought conditions ease in the upper Missouri River Basin, but only to the point of slightly above average.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been watching those flows.
Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management for the Corps, John Remus, cautions the improvement hasn’t been enough to convince the Corps to return flows from Gavins Point Dam to normal.
“Even with a near-average runoff forecast, the reservoirs remain below the base of the flood control and therefore we are anticipating continuing our water conservation measures through 2023 and possibly longer,” Remus tells a conference call held by the Corps of Engineers.
Remus says the Corps understands the Missouri River’s importance for irrigation as well as city water supplies and industrial uses.
“There is presently and will be adequate water in the reservoirs and in the river reaches between the reservoirs and below the system to serve all of the water supply need,” according to Remus.
Missouri River levels also are strong enough to support navigation.
Remus says the drought in the upper Missouri River basin has lessened, but it still remains abnormally dry.