Washington, DC — Experts expect a reduced flood risk across the Missouri River basin this spring, as much of the region is in drought.
The US Army Corps of Engineers predicts runoff to be below average for a third straight year. John Remus, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, says they plan to continue water conservation measures this year, including releasing the minimum amount of water from upriver reservoirs.
Remus says the Corps continues to monitor weather forecasts and river conditions and will make adjustments to releases if needed. Kevin Low, a hydrologist with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center, expects some springtime flooding for the lower basin because of thunderstorms.
The US Army Corps of Engineers says soil moisture is drier-than-normal in much of the basin. The mountain snowpack and plains snowpack are near average and slightly above average.
