River runoff improves

Nov 15 2007 6:18AM
Associated Press
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) More water than normal ran into the Missouri River system last month for the first time in many months.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says runoff was 4 percent above normal.

However, that still leaves runoff about 16 percent short of normal for the year.

This is the 8th year in a row for drought in the Missouri River Basin.

Consequently, the downstream navigation season has been shortened by 35 days.

Lake Oahe (oh-WAH'-hee) ended October at 18.5 feet below normal, but it's 8 feet higher than a year earlier.

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