Natural Resources Conservation Service Idaho Water Supply Outlook Report April 1, 2018 April 1, 2018 Idaho Snow Survey Summary The West is different than the Midwest and East because approximately 75% of our annual precipitation falls as snow in the West during our non-growing season, this is why we measure the western mountain snowpack. Snow gradually melts in the spring and early summer feeding streams that fill rivers and reservoirs. The April 1 snow survey is the most important survey because this is typically when the seasonal snowpack reaches its peak snow water equivalent. These first of month surveys provide a more comprehensive inventory of the mountain snowpack and includes information from over 120 SNOTEL sites in our region and over 100 manually measured snow courses. These snow courses are measured timely at the end of the month by more than 40 trained snow surveyors (Thank you!). Continue reading the Water Supply Outlook Report to find out if we have reached normal peak snow water equivalent amounts, and how snow and water supply outlooks vary across Idaho this year. Water Supply Outlook Report Federal - State – Private Cooperative Snow Surveys For more water supply and resource management information: Contact: Your local county Natural Resources Conservation Service Office Internet Web Address: http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Surveys 9173 West Barnes Drive, Suite C Boise, Idaho 83709-1574 (208) 378-5700 ext. 5 To join a free email subscription list contact us by email at:
[email protected] How forecasts are made Most of the annual streamflow in the western United States originates as snowfall that has accumulated in the mountains during the winter and early spring.