GARRISON (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers reports progress on a new marina at Fort Stevenson State Park despite challenges from rising Lake Sakakawea.

The corps says runoff and recent rain have brought Missouri River reservoir up 17 feet since April 1, after nine years of drought. The agency says in a statement that "even the most optimistic forecasts did not envision the degree of recovery experienced since April."

The corps says a coffer dam holding water back from the marina work site was designed to an elevation of 1,825 feet, but the lake has nearly reached that level.

The corps says the marina contractor, Martin Construction of Gladstone, will work to raise the coffer dam to 1,830 feet.

The lake's historic average for July is 1,839.5 feet.