North Idaho water outlook promising
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Cedar trees anchor the stream's bank Tuesday as water flows downstream in Beauty Creek. Area snowpack is near average according to a recent report by the Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service.</p>
Snowpack in North Idaho should make for a promising water season come spring and summer, according to a new report.
The region's snowpack is near average and nearly the same as last year at this time, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Idaho Natural Resources Conservation Service.
"Northern Idaho drainages have near normal snowpacks while basins in southwest and central Idaho are in the range of 60 to 70 percent of average," said Ron Abramovich, NRCS water supply specialist.
The report states basins in Idaho's Panhandle have maintained near normal snowpacks most of the season, whereas the rest of Idaho along with parts of the Spokane basin, have lagged behind.
"The peak snow water content for the snowpack generally occurs in mid-April in this region, and if the snow stopped falling today, the snowpack would end the season at 85 percent of average," the report states. "Hopefully, winter will stick around for another month and continue to keep the snowpack at average levels."
February precipitation varied with isolated storms and ranged from 66 to 145 percent of average at snow-measuring sites.
Reservoir storage in Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene and Priest Lake ranges from about 60 to 100 percent of average.
"The Panhandle region also hosts some of the highest streamflow forecasts in the state with the Spokane River forecast at 108 percent of average," the report states.
The lowest forecast in the region is for Priest River at 80 percent of average, which will still provide ample summer water supplies.
Precipitation in February was 105 percent of average in North Idaho, but lower in other parts of the state.
"One or two months of below-normal precipitation generally does not hurt the water supply too much, but when winter precipitation is lacking for three or more months then the impacts become more noticeable," Abramovich said.
Idaho's reservoirs continue to be in excellent shape. This will help water users if snowpacks and summer streamflow runoff volumes end up below normal. Current stream flow forecasts are near normal in North Idaho.
NRCS conducts snow surveys at the end of each month from December through May to make snow runoff predictions and water supply forecasts used in managing Idaho's water resources.
For more information about snowpack, precipitation, runoff and water supplies, visit www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow and click on the 'Water Supply' link.