Surviving the Drought. Corps of Engineers Response to Drought Conditions in 1988
Abstract
The combination of high temperatures and low precipitation, often record-breaking dimensions, produced drought conditions affecting a large part of the continental United States by June 1988. The impacted area stretched from eastern Oregon and eastern Washington, across the Northern Plains States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, into the Central States from North Dakota south to Texas, and on to the Eastern States. The Southwest, the Northeast, and the State of Florida experienced little or no drought conditions impacting on Corps missions or projects. Water resources were managed to provide navigation, municipal and industrial water supply, agricultural water supply, water quality, hydropower and recreation. Reservoirs and navigation systems were operated in a manner to balance competing requirements of downstream and upstream interests in the face of reduced inflows. Extraordinary efforts and coordination with Federal, state and local agencies, industry, and other interests were required to maintain the navigation channel on the lower Mississippi River and some tributary entrances. Unprecedented dredging operations, limits on two size, limits on barge loading, and judicious management of Federal reservoirs allowed waterborne commerce to continue on the Mississippi throughout the period of record low-water levels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA222294