Missouri River level stays low because of drought

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The amount of water released into the lower Missouri River this spring will remain at minimal levels because of ongoing dry conditions in the region.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it plans to release just enough water to support a minimal channel for barge traffic on the river upstream of St. Louis.

Additional water won't be released to raise the water level above Kansas City if there is no commercial traffic in that area.

The corps says it expects the amount of runoff flowing into the river basin this spring to be about 81 percent of normal. So the corps is imposing drought conservation measures.

The amount of water released out of Gavins Point dam on the South Dakota-Nebraska border averaged 18,600 cubic feet per second during March.