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Data emerging on current water outlook |
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May 19, 2015 |
Just a year ago, around this time, NewsBF was
putting up stories looking at the possibility of
flooding at Boundary County rivers. Readers were
posting photos of their pastures with standing
water in the fields.
But this year, we are looking at the other side
of the spectrum. This past winter, it seems we
had a lot of rain, but only two or three good
snowstorms. Our surrounding mountains don't seem
to have had their usual snowcovers this winter.
And those subjective appearances are backed up
by data from the government agencies that look
at water supplies and snowpacks.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, on average for May 19, there should
normally still be 19.3 inches of snow remaining
at the Hidden lake snowpack monitoring site.
Today's actual snowpack at that site: zero
inches.
Our precipitation so far for the annual water
year (which begins October 1) is close to
normal. Over the past 30 years, the average
precipitation measured at the Myrtle Creek
monitoring station from October 1 until today is
usually approximately 23 total inches. Our
actual total this water year since October 1 is
22 inches, close to that average amount.
But it seems that so far in the water year,
since October 1, we have had plenty of
precipitation, but much of it rain instead of
snow, leading to below-normal snowpack
accumulation.
"The most notable weather trend during the 2015
water year has been the higher than normal
temperatures since last October," said Jim Ruff,
Manager of Mainstem Passage and River Operations
for the Northwest Power and Conservation
Council. He continued, "With the exception of
November, which was cooler than normal, during
every other month the Columbia Basin experienced
3 to 6 degree F temperature deviations above
historic averages." Note that the Kootenai
River, which flows into the Columbia River, is a
part of the overall greater Columbia Basin
drainage. His comments were made about three
weeks ago in a presentation given to the
Council.
According to Mr. Ruff, "Widely varying
precipitation across the Columbia River Basin
which, when combined with higher than normal
temperatures, combine to result in an early
spring runoff from a meager mountain snowpack
across the basin."
It takes only a glance at the Moyie River to see
that spring runoff this year is not what we
usually see, and that observation is backed up
by the data.
The Northwest River Forecast Center, a division
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
ministration, forecasts decreased flows in both
the Kootenai and the Moyie Rivers for the spring
and summer months. Their models currently are
forecasting Kootenai flows at approximately 75%
of average, and flow in the Moyie at around 53%
of average for the months April to September.
Inflow into the reservoir above the Libby Dam is
predicted to be down 24% from last year's April
to August period.
Already this year, Governor Otter has approved
emergency drought declarations for several Idaho
counties. These other areas are in much more
severe drought conditions than we are here in
Boundary County.
Here at NewsBF, we will keep watching the water
data, and will keep everyone up to date!
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