Good ol corps of engineers aggravated me again this morning… I set some beaver traps on the river,,, pretty much assuming that they were done drawing down the lake because it’s pretty darn low the way it is… most coves are nothing but mud flats…go to check this morning and my traps are a good 2-3 feet under… I figured I was golden for awhile, because the river, where I’m at isn’t usually affected as much by the heavy rains because of it’s proximity to the dam.
Until they close down the gates or the creeks around here get back down,,, I guess im sidelined. I wish there was a way the corps would give advance notice of when they are going to open up the water.
They have a website that does tell AFTER they open them.

When we wanted to dredge our channel on our lake home due to lower water levels, the corps of engineers gave us a permit within a week. The MNDNR fought is like you wouldn't believe. We finally got it done after several months by getting some legislators involved.

Is the dam hydro or flood control only?

If that's the only problem you have with the corp of engineers, count yourself lucky.

COE is a big problem. Very woke government agency.

Is snow melting north of you?

No, just lots of rain. The lake above the dam has been as low as I’ve ever seen it… and because of the heavier rain that could flood out further downriver,,, I was certain that the gates would not be open..

I know every "ranger" ive met that works for COE is a (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman). Must be a job requirement.

Exactly. After 20 years in Heavy Civil Construction building bridges across waterways, and what “potentially” could be a waterway, and dealing with the Corps, some don’t have a clue what a Corps problem is.

Especially in the regulatory branch

Not a requirement - my daughter is one.

My Corp problem are a little different,,,,,,all I can say is,,RAPe….

I'm up here is what could be called the head waters for the Missouri River and live near Fort Peck Lake which is a hydro electric power plant , the administrations of the past have tried shutting down the coal fired power plants while demanding more electricity be produced by hydroelectric dams such as Fort Peck which had over 1,800 miles of shore line and is around 150 miles long so in other words it has more shore line than the state of California has to the ocean !

One of the most popular places to fish and recreate was Crooked Creek Bay and Forchette Bay for many people and was a spawning area for a wide variety of fish .

Until the above mentioned took place , there is Crooked Creek and the Musselshell River flow into Crooked Creek Bay also so some water was always flowing in along with the water from the Missouri River in its main channel which flows on the north side if you will of the bay .

Now Crooked Creek is a dust bowl and I've not seen it personally but I know the marina isn't open and doing business the only people using the campgrounds maybe a few hunters and the small towns around Fort Peck aren't getting the extra business generated by those who once were enjoying the recreational possibilities of the west side of Fort Peck because there isn't any water as its been drawn down in the name of clean electric energy ?

There are many ranches that have livestock that graze along the shore line also and the cattle now have to walk out where water levels once were a few feet deep causing the potential for more erosion to the shore line .

All this and the lakes down stream are still at full pool or very near so all the way down stream to the ocean so the barge traffic and river boat casino's are still raking in money when I feel all these other lakes can provide there fair share of hydroelectric power and allow Fort Peck to fill back to full pool so it's beneficial for everyone and not just a select group down stream .

To finish my above post , the last report I heard of from the Army Corps of Engineers was they plan to draw down Fort Peck another 2' which if you wanted to launch your boat at even Forchette Bay you're not doing so from a cement boat ramp but in the mud / dirt at best and Crooked Creek is and has been out of the question for years now .

Devil's Creek boat ramp may be a challenge to launch a boat from also ? The H€LL Creek may be next who's to say as they continue to drop the water level further even with little or no snow pack in the mountains to replenished the past water level as it had in the past .

It's been many year's since the spillway was needed and used of Fort Peck as the water lever is far from being even close to the head gates !