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For immediate release
March will determine fate of Washington’s stream flow outlook, water expert says
SPOKANE, Wash. (March. 11, 2009) – With time running out in this year’s snow season, the most recent report from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) suggests Washington’s stream flows will be below average this summer – but only moderately below. However, NRCS water supply specialist Scott Pattee said any additional shortfall in normal snowpack conditions for the remaining month or so – either through a lack of normal precipitation or early snow-melt – could translate into “revising the stream flow predictions downward quickly.” Stream flow forecasts range from 60 percent for the Okanogan area to 98 percent of average on the Green River for spring and summer runoff, according to the March 1 report. The NRCS makes its stream flow predictions based on high-elevation snowpack information collected from more than 100 snow data collection sites throughout the state. The March 1 statewide snowpack total was 75 percent of average – down slightly from last month. According to Pattee, Washington’s roller coaster-like snowpack has made stream flow predictions difficult this year. Since their peak in mid-January – when a series of winter storms helped bring snowpack averages to near normal across the state – snowpack totals have been trending downward. “Since January,” Pattee said, “we’ve slowly been losing ground.” NRCS’ most recent report shows only one river basin in the state with snowpack totals significantly above normal – the Tolt river basin (Central Puget Sound), at 125 percent. The Conconully Lake area (near Okanogan) reported the lowest snowpack conditions at 41 percent. Other basin snowpack averages from the NRCS automated snow data collection sites and March 1 manual snow survey measurements included… · The North Puget Sound river basins – 68 percent Due to the snowpack and melt-off water cycle, NRCS’ April 1 snowpack report is historically the most accurate assessment of the summer stream flows in Washington. “Given the ups and downs of this water season, that report is going to be even more important than usual,” Pattee said. “You might say Mother Nature has dealt most of the cards for this snow season, but we won’t know if we’re holding a winning water hand until we see that final ‘river card’ next month.”
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