Despite dug-in drought in the upper Great Plains, Lake Sakakawea is expected to rise nearly 2 feet this month, pushing the popular fishery higher than it was a year ago in May.

The lake is expected to end May at 1,809 feet above mean sea level, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in its monthly water management report released Wednesday. Lake Sakakawea ended April at 1,807.3 feet msl. The lake level was at 1,807.4 .

Garrison Dam releases averaged 12,500 cubic feet per second during April compared to the long-term average of 19,600 cfs. Releases will average 14,000 cfs during May, compared to the average of 19,200 cfs.

Lake Oahe fell less than half a foot in April, ending at elevation 1,582.8 feet msl.

Runoff from mountain snow melt is forecast to total 20 million acre feet. The storage in the reservoirs was 37.1 MAF on the first of the month, 0.5 MAF higher than last year at this time. The May spring pulse from Gavins Point Dam will not be conducted this year because storage was below the preclude level of 40 MAF on May 1.