Updated Mountain Snowpack Conditions and Water Supply Forecasts Available Online

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

PORTLAND, OR, March 11, 2009 – The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has released the March 2009 Oregon Basin Outlook Report showing summer streamflow forecasts and current data on snowpack, precipitation and reservoir storage across Oregon. The following is a summary of current conditions.

February was unseasonably dry and generally warmer than average in Oregon. Most snow measurement sites showed an increase in snow water from last month. However, the gains were not significant. Snowpacks ranged from 71 percent of average for the Harney Basin to 100 percent of average in the Hood, Mile Creeks and Lower Deschutes Basins.

Since the beginning of the water year in October, monthly precipitation has been below average each month except December. Most basins in the state are reporting below normal precipitation for the water year with precipitation ranging from 74 percent of average for Lake County to 93 percent of average for the Owyhee and Malheur Basins.

The February 1 water storage recorded at 26 major Oregon irrigation reservoirs was 71 percent of average. A total of 1,478,400 acre feet of water was stored on March 1, representing 47 percent of useable capacity. Last year at this time these same reservoirs stored 1,380,500 acre feet of water.

Streamflow forecasts for the coming spring and summer have decreased in many basins since the February 1 report due to below average monthly precipitation and snowpack accumulation. April through September streamflow forecasts currently range from 49 percent of average for the Malheur River near Drewsey to 105 percent of average for the Umatilla River at Pendleton. Pending changes in conditions, some Oregon water users could possibly face reduced supply this coming summer.

The full March 1, 2009 Water Supply Outlook Report, along with additional data on snowpack, precipitation, reservoir storage and projected streamflow, is now available on the NRCS Snow Web site at: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/bor.pl.

For additional information, please contact the NRCS Snow Survey Office at (503) 414-3267 or the local USDA-NRCS Service Center listed in the telephone book under government agencies.

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, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 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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