Rain (and predicted rain) in the upper plains states have caused the Corps of Engineers to ramp up releases of water from Oahe and Big Bend reservoirs to 160,000 cfs. In their nightly briefing, the Corps said, "If weather continues to deteriorate the Corps will lose its ability to manage intra-system adjustments and may have to increase releases from Fort Randall and Gavins Point".The releases combined with rain have increased flooding in the Pierre, SD area. Rainfall also has caused small spikes in the river in the Sioux City area and below.
The Corps releases daily average inflow and outflow at each dam, and on Monday, June 20, 4 out of the 6 dams in the system were receiving much more water than they were releasing.
Over the weekend, several levees breached or began overtopping near the Iowa/Missouri border, flooding areas near Big Lake, Craig and Rockport, MO, and Brownville, NE. The Coast Guard closed an additional 100 miles of the river to all navigation. The river is now closed from St. Joseph (rivermile 450) to Gavin's Point Dam (rivermile 811).
Sandbagging has been ongoing along the Nebraska/Iowa border, and sand supplies are getting low in Omaha and Sioux City. Infrastructure continues to be strained, with sewer and drainage problems increasing as many outflows to the river are closed. 30% of Nebraska's power production is offline due to flooding. Huge swaths of agricultural land are flooded in Nebraska, Iowa and northern Missouri. All bridges crossing the river south of Plattsmouth and north of St. Joseph are closed due to flooding on their entrance ramps. Many highway and road closures, including sections of I-29, are causing major travel delays across the region.
Nebraska's two nuclear power plants have been the source of a lot of attention as well as rampant rumors. Currently, power officials say both plants have flooding contained. A quick 2 foot rise in the river on Sunday near Brownville put that gage in record territory, and brought the Cooper Nuclear Plant within one foot of the stage at which the plant goes into shutdown mode.
In mid-Missouri, the river remains high but not in danger of serious flooding yet. For lower reaches of the river, it will take substantial rain to bring the river to the levels predicted by the Corps of Engineers. Farmers are already suffering from seepage and lack of drainage in their fields.
Here's some links to news stories throughout the basin (scroll to previous posts for more general links):
River Behavior & Background
Omaha World-Herald, June 18, 2011 - "Floods changing river channel"
Omaha World-Herald, June 21, 2011 - "Rain the wild card in flooding"
Montana
Vancouver Sun, June 19, 2011 - "Antelope stranded by high waters after epic winter"
Great Falls Tribune, June 16, 2011 - "Floods could help regenerate iconic cottonwoods"
Journal Star (Lincoln, NE), June 17, 2011 - "Dear Nebraska: Sorry about water, but more on the way. Love, Montana"
Dakotas
Bismarck Tribune, June 20, 2011 - "Next 72 hours critical in flood fight"
Pierre Capital Journal, June 21, 2011 - "Pierre, Fort Pierre prepare for 160,000 cfs"
Rapid City Journal, June 20, 2011 - "Corps caught in the middle"
Nebraska/Iowa
For constant updates and lots of photos and video, check out local newspaper flood pages:
Sioux City Journal, June 21, 2011 - "Rains to push Big Sioux River at Sioux City to near 1993 crest" - the Big Sioux is a major tributary of the Missouri that runs through eastern South Dakota and enters the Missouri River just north of Sioux City, just downstream of Dakota Dunes.
Sioux City Journal, June 21, 2011 - "Severe weather? Higher dam releases? Brown has a plan for that"
Omaha World-Herald, June 20, 2011 - "Cooper was near shutdown"
Reuters, June 20, - "Missouri flood closes 100 miles of bridges"
Wallace's Farmer - "Farmers Voice Opinions On Missouri River Flooding" US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilseck tells flooded farmers budget realities mean they shouldn't expect more disaster relief from Washington.
Omaha World-Herald - Aerial flood photos
Missouri/Kansas
St. Joseph News-Press, June 20, 2011 - "Craig residents asked to evacuate"
Kansas City Star, June 19, 2011 - "Missouri River overtops levees in Holt, Atchison Counties"
Kansas City Star, June 19, 2011 - "Coast Guard closes 100 more miles of Missouri River" bringing total closure from rivermile 450 near St. Joseph to the Gavin's Point Dam
St. Joseph News-Press, June 18, 2011 - "Lord willing and the creek don't rise"
KOMU, Channel 8, Columbia June 19, 2011 - "Wooldridge Evacuating in Preparation for Flooding"
Missouri News Horizon, June 21, 2011 - "Corps General comes to Missouri Capital"
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