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**News Release**

**US Army Corps** 12565 West Center Road Contact: Paul Johnston

**of Engineers** Omaha, Nebraska 68144-3869 (402) 697-2552

Northwestern Division Larry Cieslik

Public Affairs Office (402) 697-2675

Phone: (402) 697-2552 Date: Nov. 12, 2003

Fax: (402) 697-2554

######## RCC Monthly News Release

OMAHA -- Drought conditions persist over much of the Missouri River
basin, dropping storage in the six reservoirs to a record low. Runoff
above Sioux City, Iowa, in October was less than half of normal.

"Much of the basin remains dry and shows no signs of improving.
October's runoff was the fourth lowest in 106 years of record keeping,"
said Larry Cieslik, Chief of the Missouri River Water Management
Division in Omaha. "Reservoir storage fell below its previous record low
of 40.8 million acre feet (MAF), ending the month at 40 MAF," said
Cieslik. The previous low was set in January 1991. The amount of water
currently stored in the reservoirs is nearly 17 MAF below average.

Gavins Point Dam releases averaged 28,000 cfs in October, compared to an
average of 36,900 cfs. They are currently set at 29,000 cfs and will
vary as necessary to meet downstream targets for the remainder of the
navigation season. As previously announced, the season will be shortened
6 days to make up for the additional water released last winter for
downstream water intakes.

A six-day shortening would normally result in support for the commercial
navigation season thru the following dates:

Sioux City, Iowa November 16

Omaha, Nebraska November 18

Nebraska City, Nebraska November 19

Kansas City, Missouri November 21

###  Mouth near St. Louis, Missouri November 25

However, during drought conditions the flows subside downstream more
quickly due to the lack of inflow from groundwater and tributaries.
Therefore, releases from Gavins Point will not be reduced until Nov. 17
to ensure that navigation flows will be maintained through Nov. 25 at
the mouth.

"Releases will be reduced 3,000 cfs a day beginning on Nov. 17, reaching
the winter rate of 12,500 cfs around Nov. 22. Temporary increases could
be necessary during severe cold weather to prevent excessively low
stages caused by ice build-up," said Cieslik. Moderate temperatures
could allow releases to be set lower than 12,500 cfs.

September's runoff totaled 548,000 acre feet. "Our runoff forecast above
Sioux City for 2003 has been reduced to 17.5 million acre feet (MAF),"
said Cieslik. Normal is 25.2 MAF.

Some flow support for the Missouri River is currently being provided
from two reservoirs in Kansas. The target flow is 2,000 cfs, but will
vary depending on tributary inflow. Most of the support provided to date
has been a result of the evacuation of flood control storage at the
Milford and Tuttle Creek reservoirs.

Lewis and Clark Lake is currently at elevation 1207.5 feet msl. It will
be held near that elevation through the winter.

Fort Randall releases averaged 27,100 cfs in October. During the first
part of November they will range from 27,000 to 29,000 cfs as needed to
maintain Lewis and Clark Lake near its desired elevation. As the
navigation season ends, they will be gradually reduced to 11,000 cfs.
Lake Francis Case ended the month at 1345.3 feet msl. It will continue
its annual drawdown, ending November near elevation 1338 feet msl.

Lake Oahe dropped nearly three feet during October, ending the month at
elevation 1578.2 feet msl. The reservoir fell below its record low of
1580.7 feet msl on Oct. 2. The previous record was set in November 1989.
It will end November near its current elevation, which will be 23 feet
below normal. The reservoir is 7 feet lower than last year at this time.

Garrison releases averaged 10,800 cfs during October and increased from
10,000 cfs to 11,000 cfs in early November. They will be gradually
increased this month for electricity generation, reaching 20,000 cfs in
early December. Lake Sakakawea fell nearly one foot in October, ending
the month at 1820.1 feet msl. It will drop one foot in November, ending
the month 19 feet below normal. The lake is nearly 7 feet lower than
last year at this time.

Fort Peck releases averaged 4,600 cfs in October and will be gradually
increased, reaching 9,000 cfs in early December. The lake dropped less
than one foot in October, ending the month at elevation 2209.3 feet msl.
It will fall less than one foot in November, ending the month 25 feet
below normal. Last year at this time it was 8 feet higher.

The six main stem powerplants generated 589 million kilowatt hours (kWh)
of electricity in October, 67 percent of normal. The forecast for 2003
energy production is 7.6 billion kWh compared to a normal of 10 billion
kWh.

> \-- 30 \--

**Daily and forecasted reservoir and river information is available on
the water management section of the Northwestern Division homepage at**
[www.nwd.usace.army.mil](http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/)**.**

MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM RESERVOIR DATA

  ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
              Pool                    Water in                
              Elevation               Storage -               
              (ft msl)                1,000                   
                                      acre-feet               

              On Oct 31   Change in   On Oct 31   \% of       Change in
                          Oct                     1967-2002   Oct
                                                  Average     

  Fort Peck   2209.3      -0.3        10,444      67          -48

  Garrison    1820.1      -0.8        13,301      71          -211

  Oahe        1578.2      -2.8        11,377      65          -555

  Big Bend    1420.2      +0.0        1,703       98          +10

  Fort        1345.3      -7.8        2,784       99          -583
  Randall                                                     

  Gavins      1207.6      +0.3        401         92          +8
  Point                                                       

                                      40,010      70          -1,379
  ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

WATER RELEASES AND ENERGY GENERATION FOR OCTOBER

  ----------- ---------------------- --------------- ---------------------
              Average Release in     Releases in     Generation in 1,000
              1,000 cfs              1,000 af        MWh

  Fort Peck   4.6                    284             42

  Garrison    10.8                   663             87

  Oahe        19.0                   1171            152

  Big Bend    17.5                   1074            66

  Fort        27.1                   1664            167
  Randall                                            

  Gavins      28.0                   1719            76
  Point                                              

                                                     589
  ----------- ---------------------- --------------- ---------------------