GAVINS POINT RELEASES CUT

WATER RELEASES FROM GAVINS POINT DAM IN YANKTON HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY MORE THAN HALF. THAT'S DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM MISSISSIPPI RIVER BORDER STATES WHO SAY HIGHER LEVELS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT NAVIGATION.

RELEASES THIS WEEK HAVE DROPPED FROM OVER 37-THOUSAND CUBIC FEET PER SECOND TO 16-THOUSAND CFS.

U.S. ARMY CORPS SPOKESPERSON JODY FARHAT SAYS RELEASES WILL GRADUALLY BE REDUCED TO 12-THOUSAND CFS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO CONSERVE WATER IN THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN OF ILLINOIS, WHO OBJECTED TO THE CUTBACK, SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE CORPS HAD TO REDUCE FLOWS OUT OF THE DAM.