Another record low for the Fort Peck Reservoir is unacceptable—that was the message in the Council’s response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ draft Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River Mainstem System. By March, the reservoir may be nearly 40 feet below the desired level, causing the remaining boat launches to be inoperable.

Noting that navigation requires 10 Million Acre Feet (MAF) while upstream uses require only 2.7 MAF, the Council urged the Corps to find ways to reduce all of the authorized uses’ minimum service requirements. Additionally, the Council urged the Corps to consider economic data for all authorized uses, not just data for navigation that was included in the draft AOP. Irrigation downstream of the Fort Peck Dam supports a $20