SIOUX FALLS, S.D
The Missouri River reservoirs have gained 9 to 12 feet of water since April 1, benefactors in June of downstream flooding that prompted smaller discharges through the dams. "The heavy rain in June pushed the Missouri River over flood stage in a 600-mile reach of the lower river," said Larry Cieslik, chief of the water management office with the Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, Neb. Releases from the reservoirs were reduced to a record low of 12,000 cubic feet per second in June to help reduce the river stages downstream. Runoff for 2008 is forecast to total 25 million acre feet, an increase of 3.8 million acre feet from last month's forecast. Storage in the reservoirs was 44 million acre feet on July 1, 5.4 million acre feet more than a month ago and 3.8 million acre feet higher than last year at this time. Based on water storage levels on July 1, the commercial navigation season below Sioux City, Iowa, will be shortened by 30 days, ending on Oct. 31 at the mouth of the river near St. Louis, the corps said. The navigation season was shortened by 35 days last year because of below-normal runoff. (AP)
