Joel Galloway Associate Director USGS North Dakota Water Science Center International Legislators Forum Deadwood, South Dakota June 24-26, 2015 An Overview of the Missouri River Basin U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Only Federal Agency within DOI that has no regulatory authority or management responsibilities USGS stands as the sole science agency for the DOI Mission: provide reliable scientific information to describe and understand our natural resources; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life The USGS is the science provider of choice in accessing the information and understanding to help resolve complex natural resource problems across the Nation and around the world

Missouri River Basin - The Basics Mainstem Length – 2,341 mi – 2 ND longest River in the U.S. – Begins with confluence of Madison, Gallatin, and Jefferson Rivers near Three Forks, MT – Enters the Mississippi at St. Louis, MO – 10 States and 2 Canadian Provinces Basin – 530,000 mi 2 – 1/6 th of the US Elevation range to 14,000 feet

The Missouri River Basin –complexity of size Physiography Climate Hydrology – 2011 flood Sediment

Physiography Photos from: Norton and others, 2014

Population Approx. 12 million people –mostly in lower portion of Basin 28 native tribes

Landuse 29% cropland 55% hay and pasture 13% forest, 3% urban 28% of all farm land in the U.S. NRCS, 2012

Climate - Temperature Mean annual maximum temps ranged from 35 to >60 O F Norton and others, 2014 Mean annual minimum temps ranged from 45 O F

Climate - Precipitation Mean annual total precip. ranges from 14 in/yr (NW portion) to 41 in/yr (SE portion) Norton and others, 2014

Hydrology

Hydrology

“Taming” of the Missouri River Channelized Reservoir - regulated “free flowing”, unchannelized

The Yellowstone River is the longest “free flowing “ River in the U.S. The Yellowstone River is the longest “free flowing “ River in the U.S. “Taming” of the Missouri River Yellowstone Missouri Bismarck

Missouri River - Regulation Approx. 100 single purpose reservoirs in the Basin More than 1,200 multipurpose reservoirs 6 major mainstem reservoirs – Fort Peck (Fort Peck Dam) – Sakakawea (Garrison Dam) – Oahe (Oahe Dam) – Sharpe (Big Bend Dam) – Francis Case (Fort Randall Dam) – Lewis and Clark (Gavin’s Point Dam) Authorized purposes: flood control, navigation, irrigation, hydropower, water supply, fish and wildlife, water quality, and recreation Galat and others, 2005 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, 2015

1 st Largest: Lake Meade – 28.9 MAF current MAF 3 rd largest in U.S. 4 th largest in U.S. 5 th largest in U.S.

Peak Streamflow 500,000 cfs 150,000 cfs 441,000 cfs 192,000 cfs

Annual Runoff 1 foot of water over entire state of ND

The Flood of 2011 Previous “ recent” floods –1952: caused extensive flooding in the basin prior to reservoir construction –1997: Last large-scale runoff in the basin since the reservoirs and highest releases from the reservoirs prior to 2011 How was the 2011 flood different? – Surprisingly few peaks of record; volume event – Tributary contributions to mainstem in 2011 almost always greater than 1952 – 1997 runoff greater than 2011 from SD tribs – Therefore, the 2011 flood had to move water from the upper basin through the entire reservoir system instead of runoff from the entire basin.

Vining and others, 2013

Annual Runoff May-July 2011 runoff 34.3 MAF

Hydrology Alexander and others, 2013

Will this happen again? Driscoll and others, 2014

Sediment – Sediment – it isn’t call the “Big Muddy” for nothing “…The water we drink, or the common water of the missourie at this time contains half a comn wine glass of ooze or mud to every pint…”21 June 1804, William Clark Before flood-control dams – the suspended sediment load at the mouth was approx. 320 million tons per year. ….Currently it is about 86 million tons per year Moody and others, 2003

Sediment – Sediment – it isn’t call the “Big Muddy” for nothing Why is sediment important? – Habitat – Delivery to Mississippi Delta – Navigation – Water supply – Reservoir capacity – Flooding, ice jams

Post-Dam Conditions: - Mature vegetation - Sediment free water - Stabilized Hydrograph

Complexities of the Missouri – Implications and Issues Sedimentation issues Habitat loss/restoration Endangered species Invasive species Upstream – downstream interests – Navigation vs. water supply, recreation – Flood control

References Holmes, R.R., Jr., Wiche, G.J., Koenig, T.A., and Sando, S.K., 2013, Peak streamflows and runoff volumes for the Central United States, February through September, 2011: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1798–C, 60 p., Driscoll, D.G., Southard, R.E., Koenig, T.A., Bender, D.A., and Holmes, R. R. Jr., 2014, Annual exceedance probabilities and trends for peak streamflows and annual runoff volumes for the Central United States during the 2011 floods, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1798–D, 89 p., Alexander, J.S., Jacobson, R.B., and Rus, D.L., 2013, Sediment transport and deposition in the lower Missouri River during the 2011 flood: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1798–F, 27 p., Alexander, J.S., Wilson, R.C., and Green, W.R., 2012, A brief history and summary of the effects of river engineering and dams on the Mississippi River system and delta: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1375, 43 p. Galat, D.L., Berry Jr., C.R., Peters, E.J., and White, R.G., 2005, Missouri River in Benke, A.C. and Cushing, C.E. (eds.) Rivers of North America, Elsevier, Oxford Norton, P.A., Anderson, M.T., and Stamm, J.F., 2014, Trends in annual, seasonal, and monthly streamflow characteristics at 227 streamgages in the Missouri River watershed, water years 1960–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5053, 128 p., Vining, K.C., Chase, K.J., and Loss, G.R., 2013, General weather conditions and precipitation contributing to the 2011 flooding in the Mississippi River and Red River of the North Basins, December 2010 through July 2011: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1798–B, 22 p.

Thank you! Questions?