The Army Corps of Engineers is increasing Missouri River flows from the Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota; they says there are several water intakes along the lower Missouri River that are within mere inches of shutoff elevations.
The outflow from the Gavins Point Dam is now 18,000 cubic feet per second; previously it was 14,000 cubic feet per second. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin Water Management Division Chief Jody Farhat says that, despite the insistence of trade groups, legislators and governors, releasing water from the Missouri to the Mississippi River would not have any affect on record low water in the latter. The water released Thursday is meant to replace anticipated water loss to ice in the next few weeks. The additional water isn’t expected to reach the Mississippi until the Spring thaw.
The Army Corps is still moving to keep the Mississippi River open for barge traffic; on Tuesday they began clearing rock obstacles south of St. Louis near Thebes, Illinois, to keep commerce afloat. The U-S Coast Guard expects the rock clearing to finish by March.