MISSOURI RELEASE TO HELP MISSISSIPPI

SIOUXLAND---MINDFUL OF THE SEVERE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOODING IN ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE, THE U-S ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS STARTING THE PROCESS OF RELEASING WATER STORED IN MISSOURI RIVER RESERVOIRS UPRIVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL MEAN HIGHER RIVER LEVELS IN THE WATERWAY THAT DIVIDES NEBRASKA AND IOWA, BUT IT SHOULD CAUSE NO TROUBLE DOWNRIVER.

JODY FARHAT, CHIEF OF THE CORP'S WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION IN THE OMAHA OFFICE, SAYS THE RELEASE STARTS ABOUT THIS TIME EVER YEAR.

FLOWS FROM GAVINS POINT DAM WILL RISE AND FARHAT SAYS FLOWS FROM FORT RANDALL DAM WILL ALSO BE INCREASED.

THOSE FLOWS ARE ALREADY CAUSING FLOODING ALONG THE MISSOURI FROM GREENWOOD TO SPRINGFIELD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

FARHAT SAYS THEY EXPECT THE HIGH FLOWS TO LAST MOST OF THE YEAR.

FARHAT SAYS WITH ALL OF THAT SNOW MELTING IN THE MOUNTAINS, THERE WILL BE HEAVY WATER FLOWING FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS.

SHE SAYS RIVER STAGES COULD RISE 2-TO-3 FEET DOWNSTREAM OF GAVINS POINT DAM.