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Corps of Engineers officials estimate 2012 runoff season will be normal

An aerial view of Missouri River flooding last year near Ft. Calhoun.
An aerial view of Missouri River flooding last year near Ft. Calhoun.

Army Corps of Engineers officials say so far, this year’s Missouri River runoff season appears normal.

Missouri River Forecasting team leader Kevin Grode says water releases from Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota are at 27,000 cubic feet per second. It was at 21,000 CFS at this time last year. But he cautions that it’s still early in the runoff season and conditions can quickly change. “The risk of snow melt-driven flooding may be low this year, but there is still the potential for rainfall-induced as was seen this time last year and as was seen this week in the lower basin.”

The runoff season continues through July.

Meanwhile, Omaha Systems Restoration Team chief Brett Budd says 33 contracts worth $79 million have been awarded. Work is underway at 11 of 18 levee systems. Budd says three levee breaches in southwest Iowa, near Percival and Hamburg, are repaired.