The Army Corps of Engineers says the latest reservoir regulation studies will prompt additional drought conservation measures as the navigation season is set to begin along the Missouri River.

Minimum navigation flow support will likely be provided for the first half of the Missouri River navigation season.

The navigation season will open on April 1 at the mouth near St. Louis, and up to a week earlier the farther upstream you travel.

Releases from Gavins Point will be stepped up beginning around March 18 to provide flow support for the 2013 navigation season. The level of flow support for the second half of the navigation season and the season length will be made following the system storage check on July 1. Minimum-service flow targets range from 25,000 cfs at Sioux City, Iowa to 35,000 cfs at Kansas City, Mo. and are designed to provide a navigation channel that is 8 feet deep by 200 feet wide. This may require barge operators to carry lighter loads. Full service navigation flows provide a 9-foot by 300-foot channel. The navigation season opening dates are as follows: locations are:

• March 23 – Sioux City, Iowa
• March 25 – Omaha, Nebraska
• March 26 – Nebraska City, Nebraska
• March 28 – Kansas City, Missouri
• April 1 – Mouth near St. Louis, Missouri

Click here for the complete announcement.