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NEWSU.S. Department of Agriculture
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Record Precipitation Improves Water OutlookJune 7, 2005, BOISE, ID— Above average precipitation in May across much of Idaho improved the water supply outlook after a winter of sparse snowfall, according to the Idaho Water Supply Outlook Report issued this week by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "The May rains delayed much of the irrigation across Idaho and improved reservoir storage for later in the summer," says Ron Abramovich, NRCS water supply specialist. "However, drought conditions still persist, due to the cumulative effects of the well below average snowpacks we've received over the past few years." The Panhandle Region received the lowest May precipitation amounts at 107 percent of average while the Big Wood, Little Wood, Big Lost, Oakley and Owyhee basins topped at over 240 percent. Water-year-to-date precipitation amounts range from 76 percent of average in the Panhandle, Clearwater, Salmon, Weiser, Payette and Boise basins to 113 percent in the Southside Snake River basins. Low snowpacks still exist in northern Idaho and nearly all SNOTEL sites have melted out except for a handful at the highest elevations. Streamflow forecasts for most Idaho drainages have increased due to recent rainfall. Northern Idaho and west-central streams remain the lowest, forecasted at 35 to 65 percent of average. The Southside Snake River streams are forecast at 110 to 140 percent while Central and eastern Idaho streams are forecast at 60 to 110 percent, and the Snake River at Heise is forecast at 64 percent. For more information on basin snowpacks, water-year-to-date precipitation and streamflow forecasts, visit http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply/ . |
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