Corps of Engineers update on Osage River Basin reservoir operations

Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published June 4, 2019

 Conditions in the Osage and Missouri River Basins continue to present challenges for releasing water from three Kansas reservoirs and three Missouri reservoirs, in the Osage River Basin, which are holding high water levels behind their dams: Pomona, Melvern and Hillsdale lakes in Kansas; Stockton, Pomme de Terre and Truman lakes in Missouri.                                                                           

Project technicians increased releases at Truman Lake Monday, June 3, 2019, to 40,000 cubic feet per second – up from 30,000 cfs. Truman Lake is in surcharge operations meaning it has filled beyond the flood control pool and needs to release as much as inflows bring into the lake. As stages are forecast to decrease along the lower Missouri River beginning Friday, releases then may be increased to 60,000 to 70,000 cfs to allow the reservoir to reacquire space in the flood pool.

Releases from Pomona, Melvern, and Hillsdale lakes are at minimum flow, meaning less than 50 cfs.

Stockton Lake had work on one tainter gate which was repaired today. Releases will be reduced from 6,750 cfs to minimal level.

Currently, more than minimum releases are not scheduled from Pomme de Terre Lake.

The public should monitor National Weather Service forecasts and follow the directions of local authorities and emergency managers.

As pools at Corps lakes rise, additional personnel including park rangers, maintenance personnel, and engineers from the Kansas City District Office routinely inspect the dam, the spillway, the outlet, and other important structures. These inspections are part of our procedure as lake levels rise to ensure public safety and continued performance of the dam. All dams are structurally sound and are performing as designed.

The Kansas City District is a team of dedicated professionals with a strong heritage and proven results who, in collaboration with our partners, proudly serve in the Heartland providing leadership, technical excellence, and innovative solutions to the nation's most complex problems.


Contact
Kansas City District Public Affairs
816-389-3486
CENWK-PA@usace.army.mil
Kansas City, Mo.

Release no. 19-035