ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The National Weather Service (NWS) Water Prediction Center in Kansas City, Missouri, provided updates on the Missouri River Flood in St. Joseph on Thursday, July 4, 2024. According to NWS, the river was measured at 23.36 feet, which is considered moderately flooded. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) attributed the current conditions to excessive rainfall in surrounding states.
Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, John Remus, mentioned that releases from dams were adjusted in response to the rainfall to mitigate downstream flooding. As the river continues to recover, adjustments will be made as needed. The USACE forecasts the upper Missouri River Basin runoff to be 96% of average for the year.
During a flow test at Fort Peck Dam to benefit the pallid sturgeon, releases will fluctuate until September 1. The USACE will host weekly virtual meetings to update the public on the test progress. Reservoir forecasts for Gavins Point and Fort Randall Dams were also provided, with releases adjusted to manage flooding and navigation flow.
The six mainstem power plants generated slightly less electricity than average in June, with a total expected generation of 7.8 billion kWh for the year. Detailed release forecasts for the mainstem dams can be found on the Missouri Basin Web App.
Overall, the USACE is closely monitoring basin and river conditions and will continue to adjust system regulation based on the most up-to-date information to manage the Missouri River flood impacts.
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