17 Sep 2020

Fall releases from Rathbun Lake unlikely this season

CENTERVILLE, IA - Present conditions at Rathbun Lake appear to be unfavorable for the U.S. Army of Corps Engineers to conduct a fall water release this year as the pool elevation is currently below the multipurpose level, 904.0 feet. To provide a fall release for the benefit of state and privately managed conservation and recreational areas in the Chariton watershed downstream of Rathbun Lake, the pool elevation needs to be at 905.6 feet or above to have adequate water storage to conduct the fall water release. In addition, the weather forecast for the next 7 days shows little to no precipitation which contributes to the low probability for a fall water release. 

13 Aug 2019

Corps at Rathbun Lake to conduct a fall pulse in late September

In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated the Chariton River Water Regulation Manual and incorporated new adaptive water management strategies benefiting interests both upstream and downstream of the Rathbun Lake dam. One of the adaptive water management strategies in the new manual allows for a ‘fall pulse’ or increased water release for a short duration from the lake. This fall pulse gives the Corps the ability to increase water in support of downstream wildlife management goals on state and privately owned lands.

30 May 2019

Corps of Engineers to release water from Rathbun Lake [UPDATED]

As downstream conditions permit, the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin flood water releases from Rathbun Lake in Iowa. Releases WERE expected to start around 8 a.m. on Friday morning with a release of 1,500 cubic feet per second BUT now will be delayed for about three days until the Chariton River falls.