31 Jul 2020

Public invited to comment on planned autumn releases from Rathbun Lake

In 2016 in response to stakeholder input, the Corps of Engineers revised its operating guidance for Rathbun Lake. The new guidance allows for an annual opportunity, every autumn, for the lake to schedule a release of water to benefit state and privately managed conservation and recreational areas downstream in the Chariton watershed. This release of water will not exceed 2,700 cubic feet per second from Rathbun Dam and would be sustained for no longer than 3 or 4 days, excluding ramp up and ramp down.

24 Sep 2019

Increased fall releases from Rathbun Lake cancelled

In response to concerns over ongoing levee assessments and repairs along the lower Chariton River and the Missouri River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District will not conduct the previously announced increased releases from Rathbun Lake.

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.