Associated Press

Runoff in the Missouri River basin continues to be extraordinarily low because of drought, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says.

Runoff into Lake Sakakawea was only 12 percent of normal in August, and Lake Oahe set a record low elevation of 1,570.2 feet.

"Reservoir storage fell by 1.5 million acre feet in August," said Larry Cieslik, chief of the corps' water management office in Omaha, Neb.

Because of the low reservoirs, power plants on the river are expected to produce nearly 40 percent less hydropower this year, the corps said. The Western Area Power Administration, which markets the power produced by the dams, had to buy electricity last month to meet its obligations to utilities.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven this week met in Washington, D.C., with George Dunlop, a deputy assistant secretary with the Army.

"We made clear for the secretary the damaging impact of current corps management on municipal water supplies, agriculture, recreation and businesses," Hoeven said. "Dunlop agreed to work with the Northwest Division in Portland, and the Omaha District to see if flows out of Sakakawea could be reduced."

The corps on Tuesday said Garrison Dam releases will gradually be reduced from the current 24,000 cubic feet per second to 12,000 cfs, beginning the middle of this month. The corps increased flows last month to try to help the Oahe reservoir to the south.

Lake Sakakawea fell 3.5 feet in August and will continue its normal annual decline in September, falling 2 feet to 1,810.1 feet and ending the month 27.8 feet below normal, the corps said.

The corps is publishing its draft 2006-07 annual operating plan late this month, and holding a series of public meetings on it in October, including one Oct. 12 in Bismarck.