RECORD SNOWPACKS LINGER IN OREGON MOUNTAINS

April Water Supply Outlook Report for Oregon Now Available Online

Special Audio Feature:  The Importance of the Western Snowpack -- See below

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, April 10, 2008 – Water managers, irrigators, and other water supply watchers are paying keen attention to weather patterns this spring, looking for an indication of how fast this year’s significant mountain snowpacks will melt. While spring weather and its effects can be variable, hydrologists with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon say this year’s healthy snowpacks are likely to provide adequate water supplies for the summer. NRCS released the latest water supply data for Oregon this week in the April Water Supply Outlook Report.

According to the NRCS report, warm temperatures in early March melted some of the excess low elevation snow without major runoff events. However, record low temperatures across the Pacific Northwest later in the month halted melting and allowed more snow accumulation across the state, adding to high snow levels in northern Oregon.

“As of April 1, a total of 21 of our Oregon monitoring sites measured record snow water content,” said NRCS Snow Survey Team Leader Jon Lea.

Additionally, the snowpack gained at many sites in the Cascades and Siskiyous. These conditions will contribute to improving summer streamflow conditions.

As of April 1, the majority of monitoring points are expected to experience near to above average streamflows during the coming spring and summer.

Statewide, current water storage in Oregon reservoirs averaged at 73 percent of normal. April temperatures will be a key factor in the volume, timing and rate of inflow into these reservoirs.

The full NRCS Water Supply Forecast Report for April can be viewed online at: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/watersupply/. The report provides a summary of snowpack conditions, precipitation, reservoir storage, and forecasted streamflows at monitoring points in each major basin in the state.

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.

Special Audio Feature:  The water stemming from winter mountain snowpack runoff is important to the Western way of life. On this edition of "Agriculture USA," Rod Bain looks at the impact this year’s snowpack could make on what has been many years of drought in the West. Features USDA’s Rod Bain and Meteorologist Brad Rippey. Access the MP3 audio format from the USDA Broadcast and Media and Technology Center at: http://audioarchives.oc.usda.gov/radnewsfeatarchive.asp (CD# 14.08 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WESTERN SNOWPACK, 4/1/08)

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