September runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin was well-below average, continuing the trend of below-average runoff in 2024. The US Army Corps of Engineers says except for central Montana, which received greater than 150% of normal precipitation in a few days during late September, widespread areas of the upper Missouri River Basin received less than 25% of normal precipitation. According to the Sept. 24 drought monitor, over 81% of the Missouri River Basin is under abnormally dry or drought conditions. As a result, September runoff was 66% of average above Sioux City. The updated 2024 calendar year forecast for the upper Basin above Sioux City is 91% of average. At the end of September, the Corps says the Oahe Dam reservoir was at 1601.4 feet, down 3 feet from Aug. 31, 2024. The Missouri River’s six mainstem power plants generated 878 million kWh of electricity in September. Typical energy generation for the month is 901 million kWh. The power plants are projected to generate 8.1 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh. The Corps’ Northwestern Division will host their annual fall public meetings the last week of October. The Pierre/Fort Pierre meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, at 10am CT in the Casey Tibbs Conference Center (210 Verendrye Drive) in Fort Pierre. In September, the USACE posted the draft 2024-2025 Annual Operating Plan on its website at: https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/MRWM/Public-Meetings/. The comment period will close on Nov. 27, 2024.