Drought may pose problem for boat access on the Missouri River system in North Dakota
3/13/2022 12:24:31 AM
CATEGORIES:
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Tourism & Recreation
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
North Dakota
Burleigh County, ND
Dunn County, ND
Emmons County, ND
McKenzie County, ND
McLean County, ND
Mercer County, ND
Morton County, ND
Mountrail County, ND
Oliver County, ND
Sioux County, ND
Williams County, ND
Start Date: 1/1/2022
- End Date: 12/31/2022
Low water levels on the Missouri River will make water access difficult at the many boat ramps in North Dakota this summer. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecasts runoff to be well below normal for the upper Missouri River basin. Runoff was less than expected in February, and the trend is expected to continue. The dozens of boat ramps on the river system in North Dakota may be challenging or unusable.
As of Feb. 27, mountain snowpack in the upper basin was 80% of average, while mountain snowpack in the Fort Peck to Garrison area was 82% of average. Plains snowpack in the upper basin is very light to nonexistent. The accumulated snow and the very low soil moisture led to the reduction in the anticipated runoff for the 2022 water year.
The 2022 runoff forecast above Sioux City, Iowa, has decreased from 21.7 million acre feet to 20.4 million acre feet, which would be 21% below normal.
The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.), March 11, 2022
Sources
