News Story Manager

USACE and USGS release a new study on mountain snowpack

Published March 1, 2016
USACE and USGS release a new study on mountain snowpack

USACE and USGS release a new study on mountain snowpack

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.  Mountain snowpack is an important contributor to runoff in the Upper Missouri River Basin; for example, high amounts of winter and spring precipitation in the mountains and plains in 2010–2011 were associated with the peak runoff of record in the Upper Missouri River Basin.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed a pilot research study in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Weather Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and South Dakota State University to help assess if mountain snowpack and runoff was changing because of changes in climate. USACE worked with USGS to complete a follow-up study.

USGS, in cooperation with USACE, has released the report of this latest study, USGS Scientific Investigations Report Modern (1992–2011) and Projected (2012–99) Peak Snowpack and May–July Runoff for the Fort Peck Lake and Lake Sakakawea Watersheds in the Upper Missouri River Basin. Kevin Grode, Bill Doan, and Kevin Stamm of USACE contributed to the report as co-authors.

The objectives of the study were to simulate modern and projected mountain peak snowpack and May–July runoff into Fort Peck Lake and Lake Sakakawea in the upper part of the Missouri River Basin; determine if projected May-July future runoff might produce runoff events on the magnitude of the 2011 flood; develop insights to processes associated with such events; and to determine if projected May–July runoff might drop below the magnitude required to maintain power generation at hydroelectric dams. See the USGS website to download the full report.

Learn More

For more information, visit  www.iwr.usace.army.mil or www.corpsclimate.us.