Missouri River snowpack anticipation

ArlyA · Mar 20, 2020

I spoke with my folks today who reside on the Missouri River in central SD who said the corps of engineers had drained the lake in anticipation of the snow-pack in Montana. Said it was the lowest they'd ever seen the lake drained. (I believe its Lake Francis Case, everyone simply calla it the river) Sorry but no photos for me to post!

OK, I did find a few taken this fall.

oldballs · Mar 20, 2020

I read somewhere today, that the Spring Flooding should be overall less this year than the last. But that North/South Dakota and Minnesota might still have some flooding.

Cheers,
Mike

ArlyA · Mar 21, 2020

I read somewhere that the snow-pack was quite good in MT and it takes some time, in terms of months for it to come down the Missouri. So the COR is draining the dams in anticipation of that. We reside on lake Superior which is near record full.

oldnslo · Mar 21, 2020

Here in northern illinois the rivers are border line flooding due the ground still being saturated from last fall and some rain. Not sure if the Dakotas dried over winter.

Slowpoke Slim · Mar 21, 2020

Our snowfall was way below normal this year. And the Missouri thawed and opened early as well. If there is a flooding danger, it will come from the upper snow/watershed above and west of us. I think we're in good shape for this year, so at least as far as our holding capacity goes, we shouldn't be compounding the issue downstream from us.

Good luck everybody.

ArlyA · Mar 21, 2020

Slowpoke Slim said:
Our snowfall was way below normal this year. And the Missouri thawed and opened early as well. If there is a flooding danger, it will come from the upper snow/watershed above and west of us. I think we're in good shape for this year, so at least as far as our holding capacity goes, we shouldn't be compounding the issue downstream from us.

Good luck everybody.

Did the core lower the lake/river up there??

Slowpoke Slim · Mar 21, 2020

I haven't seen it yet. But the surface of Audubon was still frozen solid last time I went across on 83. I think Sakakawea had some open water in it, but wasn't fully open yet at that time. It may be open now though.

The levels seemed normal at the time.