Low Des Moines River at Ottumwa, Iowa ended hydroelectric production
10/22/2022 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Business & Industry
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Wapello County, IA
Ottumwa, IA
Start Date: 10/10/2022
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Rivers are low across Iowa, showing more rocks and sand bars than water. In Ottumwa, the Army Corps of Engineers river gauge showed .08 of feet of water on the Des Moines River, as of Oct. 10.
“So right now we’re using all Des Moines river water for community water supply,” stated the general manager of the Ottumwa Water Works. “I know the river looks really really low right now but we obviously have a pool of water behind us because of the dam historically we have flows like this for extended periods of time.”
The Red Rock Dam was releasing 300 cubic feet per second, which is enough for Ottumwa. But the low flow did cause the hydroelectric plant to close, dropping revenue from electricity sales. They budgeted to receive about $450,000 for the year, but were at a little over $300,000 at the present.
WHO-TV NBC 13 Des Moines (Iowa), Oct 10, 2022
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