Gavins Point Dam releases are now at winter rate

YANKTON, S.D. — Reduced releases from the Gavins Point Dam to the winter release rate began Nov. 23 with the navigation flow support season ending Dec. 1 at St. Louis.

“Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being reduced to the 12,000 cubic feet per second winter release rate by mid-December,” said John Remus, Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division. “We will closely monitor river conditions, and releases will be adjusted to the extent practical to lessen the impacts of river ice formation in the lower river.” Releases were at 26,000 cfs prior to the reductions.

As the colder, winter temperatures enter the basin, USACE will closely monitor Missouri River ice conditions between the System reservoirs and downstream of Gavins Point Dam for potential ice jams that could impact river stages and water intakes.

Runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 0.9 million acre-feet during November, 81% of average. The 2025 calendar year runoff forecast is 19.6 MAF, 76% of average. Average annual runoff is 25.7 MAF.