Spring runoff in the Missouri River Basin was 125% of normal last month, but officials insist the reservoirs can handle it. That’s despite reductions in water releases to reduce flood risk.

In a news release, the US Army Corps of Engineers reported runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa for the month of June was 6.8 million acre feet (MAF).

That’s 125 percent of normal. The 2015 runoff forecast is 26.6 MAF, 105 percent of normal. Average annual runoff is 25.2 MAF

“In response to repeated rains in the lower basin, releases from Gavins Point Dam were reduced to 22,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to reduce flood risk along the Missouri River,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “Following the flood crest, Gavins Point releases were gradually increased to meet the navigation flow targets.”

June precipitation was above normal across much of the Missouri River Basin, most notably in the western Dakotas, eastern Montana and eastern Wyoming. Heavy rain also fell in eastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas and much of Missouri. The total volume of water stored in the Mainstem Reservoir System is currently 61.9 MAF.

“The reservoirs are currently utilizing 35 percent of the available flood control storage and remain well positioned to capture additional runoff should further reductions in releases become necessary,” stated Farhat.