Oregon Water Supply Forecasts Updated for February 2007

Online Water Forecasts and Snow Survey Data Available to the Public
 

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, Jon.Lea@or.usda.govmailto:Jon.Lea@or.usda.gov

PORTLAND, OR, February 14, 2007 – During what is normally one of Oregon’s wettest months, January produced notably drier-than-average weather conditions across the state, according to the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report issued by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“Because of a three-week dry pattern, January precipitation ranged from 27 to 71 percent of average across Oregon,” said Jon Lea, NRCS Snow Survey Supervisor. “The February 1 snowpack was 50 to 80 percent of average throughout most of the state, and Oregon streamflow and reservoir forecasts for the year so far reflect these conditions.”

From January to June, NRCS releases monthly Water Supply Outlook Reports to provide a forecast of the water that will be available for homes, municipalities, agriculture, business, recreation, wildlife and other uses during the rest of the year. Snowpack, precipitation, and climate data for Oregon’s 13 major drainage basins as well as current water storage in 27 major reservoirs are included in the report. This includes irrigation reservoirs and public supplies, including the portion of Portland’s city water collected in reservoirs in the Bull Run Watershed. As a picture of summer water supplies continues to emerge over the next few months, municipalities, farmers, businesses, natural resource managers and others will have the opportunity to plan ahead using this information.

The February 1 forecast indicates that many of the state’s major reservoirs could face significantly reduced spring inflows and may not fill to capacity without significant precipitation through the remainder of the water year that runs through May.

Based on current data on the amount of water stored in the mountain snowpack, summer streamflow forecasts are also below normal for much of the state. Because of the dry January weather, forecasts indicate that normal precipitation and snow accumulation for the rest of the year may still result in potential deficits in parts of the state during the coming summer. As of February 1, the April through September streamflows are forecasted to be well below average in areas east of the Cascades. The Rogue and Umpqua Basins are also expected to face lower than normal water supplies during the coming summer. Currently, the Willamette, Columbia at The Dalles, and mainstem Deschutes summer forecasts are near or slightly below normal.

Monthly Water Supply Forecasts for Oregon and 10 other states across the West are available to the public free of charge on the NRCS Web site under “Snow” at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply

In addition to the water forecasts, daily readings from high elevation Snow Survey data collection sites can also be found on the NRCS Snow Survey Web site.

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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