Friday, April 10, 2009

Water outlook: Lush

River basins near normal after March precipitation


By JASON KAUFFMAN
Express Staff Writer

The chance of solid flows in the Big Wood River, shown here at the intersection with Colorado Gulch, has improved as springtime storms have dumped more snow in local mountain ranges. Photo by David N. Seelig

Recent spring storms have led to a surprising turnaround in Idaho's high country snowpacks that should have boaters and irrigators smiling.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, above average March precipitation helped boost the state's water supply outlook for the coming summer.

The federal agency's water supply outlook for April says the storms have raised hopes for an adequate water supply for hydropower production and agriculture this summer. According to Ron Abramovich, NRCS water supply specialist, the precipitation helped ease spiraling water volumes caused by the mid-winter dry spell.

"More water will make decisions more straightforward for water managers and users trying to stretch their water budget to the end of the season," Abramovich said.

March storms brought abundant moisture to Idaho's mountains; some high-elevation snow measurement sites registered near record March precipitation amounts, the NRCS reports. Most of Idaho received at least 110 percent of average precipitation, with the highest amounts at 200 percent of average in some areas.

Despite the good news, water forecasts for the Big and Little Wood and Lost river basins are still somewhat below average and water supplies may be marginally adequate in these basins, the federal agency states.

"Just how efficient the spring runoff will be depends on the future weather and the lingering long-term drought effects," Abramovich said. "Dry soils can soak up runoff and decrease runoff efficiency. Also, the streamflow forecasts assume normal spring and summer precipitation—without more precipitation in the coming months, volumes may be lower than stated."

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's forecast for the May-through-July period is for below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures across central and southern Idaho and western Wyoming. However, at least for the next seven days, the weather service is calling for off-and-on showers in the Ketchum area.

Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com




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