CENTERVILLE, Iowa— The week of August 26, 2013, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be increasing releases from Rathbun Lake in order to support ongoing efforts to revise the Chariton River Basin, Rathbun Lake Regulation Manual, which was last edited in 1980. Releases will be increased from 400 cubic feet per second to 2,500 cfs throughout the day, beginning the morning of Monday, August 26th. The 2,500 cfs releases will be maintained through Thursday, August 29 and then reduced by the end of the day back to approximately 400 cfs.
This brief period of increased releases will permit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to gather useful information regarding the depth of flow in the Chariton River all the way from the dam downstream through conservation lands in Iowa and Missouri. This brief period of 2,500 cfs releases will help to further refine the maximum carrying capacity of the Chariton River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake began the process to update the Rathbun Lake Regulation Manual, the guiding document for managing lake level conditions and water releases in May 2013. Official notification to begin the process of updating the manual began in May with a public workshop. At this workshop, the public was provided the opportunity to comment on Chariton River depth of flow information collected during high water releases in 2010. During the late summer and early fall of 2010, Rathbun Lake was releasing water at a record high rate of 3,000 cfs. At 3,000 cfs release from Rathbun Lake there was some backwater effect observed on adjoining streams and drainage ditches.
Based upon stream depth information collected in 2010 at higher flows, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is confident that 2,500 cfs will remain below existing river banks. Questions regarding this release can be directed either to Rathbun Lake Operations Manger, Phillip Brown at 816-389-3108 (email Phillip.h.brown@usace.army.mil) or you may contact Christopher Purzer of the Kansas City District Water Management Office, at 816-389-3545 (email Christopher.a.purzer@usace.army.mil).
This water release exercise is contingent upon dry weather conditions continuing through the week of August 26th.
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Release no. PA-2013-48