Releases From Fort Peck Dam Increased

Releases from Fort Peck Dam were stepped up from 5,000 cfs to 9,000 cfs on Dec. 6, and will be held at that rate through December, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Releases from Garrison Dam were increased from 13,000 cfs to 16,000 cfs on Dec. 5. Releases from Garrison are typically set near 16,000 cfs prior to the river freeze-in to reduce the risk of ice-induced flooding in the Bismarck, N.D. area. Releases will remain at that rate in December. Releases at Fort Peck and Garrison dams are being adjusted as a storage-balancing measure in the upper reservoirs.

For the Fort Peck Dam, average releases during the past month was 5,200 cfs. Current release rate is 5,000 cfs. The forecast average release rate is 9,000 cfs.

The reservoir level at the end of November was 2,226.6 feet. The forecast reservoir level at the end of December is 2,224.9 feet.

The forecast reservoir releases and elevations discussed above are not definitive. Additional precipitation, lack of precipitation or other circumstances could cause adjustments to the reservoir release rates.