We all remember the images. The Missouri River flooded to historic proportions in 2019. Southwest Iowa took the brunt of the damage. Cities, farms, and fields left in ruin from the devastation that will take years of recovery efforts. As we approach the one-year anniversary of these floods, we worry about what is in store in 2020.
More heavy snowfall has occurred in the upper Midwest. Namely in places like the Dakotas, Montana, and Minnesota. Parts of, if not all, these states contribute to part of the Missouri River watershed. The Army Corps of Engineers, which took much criticism for their handling of the 2019 flood season, is already putting 2020 plans into action. Missouri River power production team leader Mike Swenson says all the 2019 water is out of the reservoir system upstream.
Swenson says the reservoirs in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota are either very near or at the flood control levels.
Swenson says the release at Gavin?s Point Dam in Yankton, SD has been increased from 30,000 to 35,000 cubic feet per second last week.
Normal winter release levels at Gavin?s point are between 12,000 and 17,000 cubic feet per second. What will this mean for the people downstream in Iowa? The Army Corps is going to be under increased scrutiny after last year?s flooding. Hopefully, by the Corps of Engineers being proactive, Iowa will have to be less reactive.
