NRCS RELEASES CURRENT OREGON WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK

Projections for spring and summer water supplies are available online
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Jon Lea, USDA NRCS Snow Survey Team Leader: (503) 414-3267, Jon.Lea@or.usda.gov
Sheila Strachan, USDA NRCS Hydrologist: (503) 414-3272, Sheila.Strachan@or.usda.gov

PORTLAND, OR, January 16, 2008 – With snow falling in the Oregon mountains, accumulation of the year’s water supply is off to a promising start. According to snow surveyors with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), snowpacks statewide are at 86 to 189 percent of average, with nine of 12 basins reporting more than 100 percent of average snowpack for this time of year.

While current snowpack numbers are encouraging, it is important to remember that snowfall alone does not determine the year’s water supply and streamflows. Spring and summer streamflows are dependent upon many factors, such as spring and fall precipitation, soil moisture, groundwater and spring levels, geology, spring air temperatures, and other factors.

At the same time, however, water users often cannot wait until spring to make important decisions for the upcoming year. Over the next months, NRCS will continue to inventory the snow and make projections of the water supplies and streamflows to inform the decisions of water managers, farmers, hydropower producers and many others.

The Water Supply Outlook Report released by NRCS shows that many factors, including last year’s conditions, will influence water availability this year. According to the report, current reservoir storage in Oregon varies. Because of the dry winter of 2007 and subsequent low spring and summer streamflows, reservoirs in the eastern part of the state remain low, while reservoirs in western Oregon and the Deschutes Basin reported close to normal conditions as of January 1. Storage at 27 major Oregon reservoirs was measured at 65 percent of normal for this time of year with a total of 1,095,300 acre feet of water, which is less than last year’s 1,817,000 acre feet of water.

Streamflows for the summer of 2008 are currently expected to be at average levels for most of the state. Exceptions are areas in the southeastern corner of the state and the Crooked River in central Oregon. In the Owyhee, Lake County, Goose Lake and Harney Basins, summer streamflows are currently forecast to be significantly below normal. Future monthly updates will provide updated streamflow projections.

The following is the current summary of expected streamflows for the coming spring and summer months. These forecasts will be revised with current data on a monthly basis and posted on the NRCS Web site.

The full Water Supply Outlook Report for January, along with additional data on snowpack, precipitation, reservoir storage and projected streamflow, is available on the NRCS Snow Web site at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

NRCS provides voluntary technical and financial assistance to people interested in protecting and enhancing soil, water, and related natural resources on non-federal lands. NRCS staffs work in every county in the state and directly assist farmers, ranchers, and others. NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov

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