Water Management Monthly News Release

• File Number: 8461.250
• Description: Platte River Water Issues
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Author: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Title: Water Management Monthly News Release
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

News Release
US Army Corps 12565 West Center Road Contact: Paul Johnston
of Engineers Omaha, Nebraska 68144-3869 [phone]
Northwestern Division Larry Cieslik
Public Affairs Office [phone]
Phone: [phone] Date: March 10, 2006
Fax: [phone]
Water Management Monthly News Release
OMAHA - Runoff into the system of Missouri River reservoirs was 1 million acre feet in
February, 96 percent of normal. The mountain remains slightly above normal for this time of the
year.
"We are pleased that the mountain snowpack remains slightly above normal," said Larry
Cieslik, Chief of the Water Management office here. It is 105 percent of normal in the reach above
Fort Peck and 96 percent in the reach from Fort Peck to Garrison, essentially the Yellowstone River
basin.
The amount of water currently stored in the reservoirs is 18 MAF below normal. Runoff for
the year is forecasted to be 20 million acre feet (MAF), 79 percent of normal. Normal runoff is 25.2
MAF. System storage at the end of March is forecast to be 37 MAF.
Despite the near normal runoff in February, the total reservoir storage was not high enough
on March 1 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the March spring pulse. There was
36.3 MAF of water in the reservoirs, below the limit of 36.5 MAF.
Another storage check will be taken on May 1 to determine if there is enough water in the
reservoirs to conduct the May pulse.
Six public meetings to discuss and answer questions about the 2006 Final Annual Operating
Plan will be conducted next month. The plan is available on the Northwestern Division website:
www.nwd.usace.armv.mil. The meetings will be held:
Apr 10 - Omaha, Neb., at 5 p.m. in the Northwestern Division offices, 12565 West Center Road
Apr 11 - St. Louis, Mo., at 1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Airport, 11228 Lone Eagle Drive
Apr 11- Jefferson City, Mo., at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 1510 Jefferson St.
Apr 12 - Williston, N.D., at 1 p.m. at the El Rancho Motor Hotel, 1623 Second Ave West
Apr 12 - Pierre, S.D., at 7 p.m. at the Governor's Inn, 700 W. Sioux Ave
Apr 13 - St. Joseph, Mo., at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 102 South Third Street