More storage would have been limited help in Missouri River flooding, Corps officials say

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says having more space free in the Missouri River's reservoirs would have reduced, but not eliminated, last year's flooding.

The corps says in a new report released Friday that flooding still would have caused widespread damage along the Missouri last year because of the massive volume of water that moved through the river.

And any increase in the amount of flood storage space in the reservoirs would reduce the economic benefits the river offers through barge traffic, recreation and hydropower.

The corps says increasing flood storage space in reservoirs is only one option to reduce flood risk. It says officials may need to consider increasing the capacity of the Missouri River channel and reducing development in the flood plain.