Despite above-normal runoff in the eastern portion of the Missouri River basin from rain and melting snow in March, drought conditions persist over most of the upper part of the basin, with the mountain snow pack expected to peak 25 percent below normal later this month.

The higher-than-normal runoff has pushed the downstream reach of the Missouri well above full service navigation flows, allowing the corps to maintain releases from the reservoir system at extraordinarily low levels for this time of the year, the corps said in its monthly water management news release.

The reduced releases and localized runoff have helped increase the levels of the upper reservoirs.

Lake Sakakawea rose nearly 2 feet in March, ending the month at 1,808.7 feet and is expected to rise about half a foot in April, ending at 1,809.6 feet. The reservoir is 2 feet lower than last year at this time and will end the month 24 feet below normal.

Lake Oahe climbed 3.5 feet in March, ending at elevation 1,575.8 feet above mean sea level.

The reservoir is expected to climb another 3 feet in April, ending the month near elevation 1,579.2 feet. That is 25 feet below its normal elevation. The reservoir is 0.9 feet lower than last year at this time.

The mountain snowpack above Fort Peck is 73 percent of normal. In the reach between Fort Peck and Garrison, essentially the Yellowstone River basin, it is 76 percent of normal. The mountain snowpack normally peaks about mid-April.