NEWS

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite B
Boise, Idaho 83709

For more information:
Ron Abramovich (208) 378-5741 or (208) 871-1247
 

Recent Snows Dampen Idaho's Drought

January 10, 2006, BOISE, ID— December’s wet weather doubled snowpacks in Idaho’s central mountains and, if conditions continue, water supplies could be the best since before the drought started in 2000.

“December’s precipitation is encouraging for Idaho’s water supply outlook,” says Ron Abramovich, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “Already, the Boise and Big Wood basins have surpassed last year’s peak snow water amounts.”

Snowpacks doubled in the central mountains between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. The Deadwood Summit SNOTEL site increased from 47 inches of snow on the ground on Dec. 19 to 103 inches on Jan. 1.

Snowpacks for the Boise basins are at 129 percent of average and the Big Wood Basin is at 145 percent while the Upper Snake and Salmon basins are at 120 percent and the Bear River, Oakley and Salmon Falls basins range from 135 to 150 percent of average. The Panhandle Region received the lowest snowpacks in the state with the Coeur d’Alene Basin currently at 56 percent of average.

“December’s precipitation boosted lower elevation streams and reservoir storage,” Abramovich says. “Plus, the warmer, wet weather primed the soils for when the snow melts.”

Most Idaho reservoirs are 80 to 110 percent of average, except for Bear Lake, Blackfoot, Magic and Salmon Falls reservoirs which are at 40 to 70 percent. Streamflow forecasts range from a low of 72 percent for the Panhandle Region’s tributaries to 133 percent for the Big Wood River below Magic Dam. The Snake River near Heise is forecast at 108 percent and, when combined with current reservoir storage, could produce the best water supplies since 1999.

At this time, winter recreationists can expect to enjoy delightful conditions including several powder days. Several SNOTEL sites are reporting 100 inches of snow in the central mountains. As for river runners, the Middle Fork Salmon River is forecast at 127 percent of average, the Bruneau River at 121 percent and Owyhee River near Rome at 106 percent. The Selway and Lochsa rivers are forecast at 102 percent and 95 percent of average, respectively.

“The water supply outlook is very encouraging this year,” Abramovich says. “Let’s hope Mother Nature doesn’t turn the spigot off in the second half of the winter as we’ve seen in recent years.”

The NRCS Snow Survey Program publishes the Idaho Water Supply Outlook Report. For the full report, including conditions for specific basins, and daily updates, visit http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply/.

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