Corps of Engineers says Low Risk for Missouri River Flooding
04/10/2012

The Corps of Engineers continues to be optimistic about Missouri River flooding this spring. Hydrologist Steven Predmore at the river basin forecast center thinks there's more than a fifty percent chance for spring flooding on smaller tributaries but he doesn't think that water will have a major impact on the Missouri River itself. (play audio  :15) 
Kansas City Corps office spokesman Robin Wankum says several levee repair projects are underway or are in process.  (play audio  :32)
Meanwhile, northwest Missourians who still see holes in Missouri River levees are hoping the Corps of Engineers is right when it forecasts a limited outlook for significant flooding. Water Management Director Jody Farhat (far-hot) says it would be difficult to see floods this year equal to last year's record event.  (play audio  :29) 
Farhat says the total volume of water stored in the Missouri River Main Stem Reservoir System is currently 56.9-million acre-feet, just 0.1-million acre-feet above the base of the annual flood control pool.
 The April 1 run-off forecast above Sioux City is 23.4-million acre-feet or 94-percent of normal.  Farhat says releases from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton will be increased to just under 29-thousand cubic feet per second to support navigation from Sioux City downstream. Peak flows during last summer's flooding maxed out at just over 160-thousand cubic feet per second.
 


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