Snownews Volume 2, Issue 4

National Water & Climate Center

June 2013 SnowNews Volume 2, Issue 4

Inside this issue: NDMC provides monitoring, impact assessments & planning Tower climbing / rescue 3

Kelly Smith Gridded soil survey map 5 NDMC Communications and Western Snow Conference 6 Planning Specialist

The National Drought Mitiga- Westwide drought tracker 8 tion Center (NDMC) was es- Water quality index for Ag 9 tablished in 1995 at the Uni- versity of Nebraska-Lincoln to U.S. drought monitor 11 reduce societal vulnerability to drought. Variations in annual Products and resources 11 precipitation are inevitable, but people may be able to escape Soil moisture database 12 some of the worst conse- quences of drought by plan- Photo contest winners 13 ning ahead. Monitoring, im- Director’s news 18 pact assessments and planning are all key to reducing This view of the Drought Impact Reporter (DIR) shows the distribu- vulnerability to drought. tion of CoCoRaHS reports received in May 2013. Larger circles mean more reports from that state. DIR users can click to drill down into the One of the first steps is figur- circles and see what observers said. ing out how you’ll recognize a drought, because it creeps up the U.S. Drought Monitor is Community Collaborative slowly, one nice day at a time. now one of the main triggers Rain, Hail and Snow Network In 1999, the NDMC and Fed- for distributing drought relief (CoCoRaHS) that allows Co- eral partners (the National funds to agricultural CoRaHS volunteers to include Oceanic and Atmospheric producers. drought impact reports with Administration and the U.S. their observations. They have A good way to know how to Special points of interest: Department of Agriculture) been a particularly active plan for drought is to see how launched the U.S. Drought group of citizen scientists. it has affected you in the past.  Snow needles Monitor, a weekly map char- In 2005, the NDMC launched City dwellers are usually insu- acterizing drought in the U.S. the Drought Impact Reporter, lated from the worst effects of  Estimating rain frequency/intensity and Puerto Rico. Each week, a comprehensive archive of drought because their water U.S. Drought Monitor authors drought impacts, accessible supplies are professionally  Geological Society of America work with a network of local meeting via an online map. In 2011, managed. People in smaller, observers across the country the NDMC rolled out an updat- rural, agriculture-based com- to synthesize many drought  Stress management tips ed version of the tool. Impacts munities may be more aware indicators such as precipita- come from user reports, and of drought’s effects, as many tion, temperature, hydrologic  NWCC highlights from media and various agen- individuals’ livelihoods are conditions and observed im- cy reports entered by NDMC affected, and smaller water pacts into a single map char- staff. Anyone can submit a supplies that depend on a acterizing drought. In addition user report describing how single well may be more vul- to providing a focal point for drought is affecting his or her nerable to drought. national discussion on drought locale. The NDMC also has an for media and policymakers, active partnership with the continued page 2 National Drought Mitigation Center (from page 1)

We are now work- drought is ranchers, in part ing with the Exten- because they don’t have the sion Disaster Edu- same insurance options that cation Network to producers of row crops have. further spread The NDMC worked with Ex- awareness of com- tension forage specialists and munity-based others to produce an exten- drought-planning. sive, web-based guide for See http:// ranchers: eden.lsu.edu/ Managing Drought Risk on the Topics/Hazards/ Ranch, Laurie Abbott, New Mexico State University Drought/Pages/ associate professor of Animal and Range default.aspx The NDMC works closely with Sciences, talks to Chad McNutt, National NOAA on the National Inte- “Monitoring, impact We are also work- Integrated Drought Information System grated Drought Information ing with the Ameri- assessments and (NIDIS) program officer, at a workshop May System (NIDIS). 29 in Socorro, New Mexico, to help ranchers can Planning As- planning are all key manage drought risk. The NDMC worked with sociation on a For more information, please the New Mexico Society for Range Planning Advisory visit http://drought.unl.edu. to reducing Management and NIDIS to organize the Service Report to Look for our weekly updates vulnerability to workshop. identify and dis- on U.S. Drought Monitor sta- seminate best tus, our new monthly drought practices for integrating impact summary and our drought.” The NDMC emphasizes that drought planning into other quarterly newsletter, people at all decision-making widely used planning process- DroughtScape. levels, including communities, es. http://www.planning.org/ can and should plan ahead for research/drought/ drought. In 2010 the NDMC and partners released Drought One group that has been hit -Ready Communities. particularly hard by recent

What are “snow needles?”

Several of the winning photos branches, sensors, even the more ice crystals were depos- in this year’s SSWSF Photo smallest string, like strands of ited on the windward surface. Contest (see pages 13-17) lichen.” This explains why the needles were by Hydrologist Jeff An- were not equally distributed on derson, Idaho Data Collection The conditions overnight and all side of branches. Many Office. The photos, taken at into the morning were perfect needles were a couple inches the Cool Creek SNOTEL site to create snow needles, a or more in length. Beautiful!” in Idaho’s Clearwater Moun- form of “soft rime” ice. Tem- To learn more about snow tains during a helicopter snow peratures had hovered be- needles and soft rime ice, survey, featured “snow tween -3°C and -5°C allowing here are some references: needles.” the fog’s liquid water droplets to become super-cooled. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ According to Jeff, “As we ap- Soft_rime proached, the summit was Jeff continued, “A gentle wind draped in clouds, and we must have moved the fog http:// nearly were not able to land. through the forest and cathybell.org/2013/01/02/hoar- But, as we circled, the clouds SNOTEL site, allowing the frost-and-rime-ice-whats-the- lifted, just enough for us to set water droplets to freeze on difference/ down near the site. Snow contact to the windward side http://www.its.caltech.edu/ needles were on practically of objects. The needles grew ~atomic/snowcrystals/frost/ every surface, including tree outward from those surfaces, into the wind, as more and frost.htm

Page 2 June 2013 Successful tower climbing and rescue training

The annual Tower Climbing tice their skills during the field and Rescue Training oc- exercises. curred May 21-23 at the Boise The 40-foot receive towers at Master Station. the Boise Master Station pro- This year, eight participants vided an ideal training ground, from the Natural Resources by allowing ample height for Conservation Service (NRCS) rescuers to descend their learned techniques for proper- awaiting patients. ly ascending, descending and The simulated rescue was working on meteorological and performed at a height of about transmit/receive towers. 20 feet – the same height as Tony Tolsdorf, National Wa- most SNOTEL tower ter and Climate Center installations. (NWCC), has been an OSHA- Second training session certified safety and rescue considered instructor since 2005. Rash- awn Tama, NWCC, has as- For those unable to attend this sisted Tony for most of those training session, a second years and was certified in class is under consideration, 2011. and tentatively scheduled for late June, 2013. Contact The 3-day training consisted Tony Tolsdorf (503-414-3006) of lectures, demonstrations if you’re interested in learning and field exercises. After more about this training. Rashawn Tama rescues Butch Horner, while passing a written examination, training participants observe. participants were able to prac-

2013 Tower Climbing and Rescue participants. Front row: Tony Tolsdorf, Butch Horner. Back row: Amy Burke, Kent Sutcliffe, Melissa Webb, Lucas Zukiewicz, Phil Morrisey, Jordan Clayton, Rashawn Tama, Alexander Rebentisch

SnowNews Page 3 ICI-RAFT estimates rain event frequency/intensity

The U.S. Army Corps of Engi- regions where rain gauge data from all sites within a neers Institute for Water Re- sites are minimal and where particular region, regardless of sources (IWR) International the measurements taken at missing data and varying rec- Center for Integrated Water those sites may contain nu- ord lengths, are used to make Resources has developed a merous periods of missing estimates of rainfall intensity software tool named the ICI data. and frequency at a specific Regional Analysis of Fre- location within that region. ICI-RAFT alleviates this prob- quency Tool, or ICI-RAFT. lem using a method where Click here to learn more about The tool estimates the fre- several sites with similar char- ICI-RAFT, or to download the quency and intensity of a rain- acteristics (e.g., elevation, software and supporting fall event of a particular dura- longitude, latitude) are documentation. tion using rainfall observations grouped into a “region.” All

on the ground.

ICI-RAFT helps answer questions like:

 What is the probabil- ity that the current drought will end in X months?

 How long a drought should we prepare for?

 What is the frequency of maximum drought intensity observed?

One problem that can occur when performing this type of analysis is a lack of sufficient rainfall data to make accurate estimates of rainfall intensity at a specific location. This is especially true in arid and semi-arid Example of an ICI-RAFT frequency distribution

125th Anniversary: Geological Society of America annual meeting

The Geological Society of If you’d like to submit an ab- America’s 125th annual meet- stract for the conference, the ing is scheduled for October deadline is August 6. 27-30, 2013. The deadline for meeting reg- The meeting’s theme is istration is September 23. “Celebrating Advances in Ge- For more information, check oscience," and will be held at out the GSA website. the Colorado Convention Cen- ter in Denver, Colorado.

Page 4 June 2013 Gridded Soil Survey Geographic map product

The new Gridded Soil Survey The gSSURGO dataset is for (land cover, terrain data, cli- Geographic (gSSURGO) prod- use in national, regional and mate, etc.). uct provides access to soils statewide resource planning Ready-to-map attributes in- information for large land and analysis of soils data. clude soil organic carbon, areas. gSSURGO provides The new soil 10m raster map available water storage and detailed soil survey mapping in layer data offers rapid display productivity indices. gSSUR- raster format with “ready to of soil themes over large land GO is a product of the Nation- map” attributes in statewide areas and is easy to combine al Cooperative Soil Survey tiles for desktop GIS. with other raster data sources (NCSS) partnership.

gSSURGO map: Root zone depth for commodity crops

gSSURGO map: Potential wetlands soil landscapes

SnowNews Page 5 81st Western Snow Conference held in Jackson, WY

Jolyne Lea NRCS personnel in NWCC Hydrologist attendance included Mike Strobel Several members of the Snow (NWCC), Jan Cur- Survey and Water Supply tis (NWCC), Jolyne Forecasting (SSWSF) Pro- Lea (NWCC), Scott gram attended the Western Pattee (WA), Ron Snow Conference, held the Abramovich (ID), week of April 15 in Jackson, Randy Julander Wyoming. (UT) and Lee First held in 1932, the Hackleman (WY). conference is an annual NRCS snow survey meeting of snow scientists retirees included from the western U.S. and Phil Farnes (MT) “First held in 1932, the Canada. It is an international and Peter Palmer forum for individuals and or- (ID). conference is an ganizations to share scientific The week started research on snow, water sup- Grizzly bear mother and three 1-year old off with a short annual meeting of ply forecasting and snowmelt cubs foraging for food in the snow, course titled “New runoff processes to advance Jackson, WY snow scientists from Strategies and snow and hydrological Techniques in sciences. Ron shared information on the western U.S. and Long Range Weather and when these decisions need to This year’s conference theme Streamflow Forecasting.” This be made, and what weather Canada.” was “Wild Weather in the Wild session had a panel of ex- and hydrologic tools have West,” and focused on new perts, including Ron Abramo- been recently developed to research and technology in vich, who gave the back- provide more accurate fore- multi-year climate forecasts, ground information on how casts of future weather and snow data and modeling, most agencies, utilities and water supply. changes in snowmelt runoff irrigators use long-range fore- and the effect of changing casts for hydropower plan- Panel members included snow regimes on wildlife. ning, reservoir operation and Howard Neibling, Extension agricultural decisions. Water Management Engineer (University of Idaho); Jeremy Giovando, Hydraulic Engi- neer (USACE, Walla Walla, WA); Mel Kundel, Hydrome- teorologist (Idaho Power), Klaus Wolter, Meteorologist (University of Colorado- CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center NOAA-ESRL Physical Science Division), and Jan Curtis, Meteorologist (NRCS National Water and Climate Center).

The panel provided the latest information and tools on long range weather and water forecasting, water and irrigation decision-making timelines and critical needs.

continued page 7 Jackson Lake, Wyoming, provides irrigation water for farmers in the Snake River Basin. Page 6 June 2013 Western Snow Conference (from page 6)

The last day of the conference was a “Wildlife and Snow Hy- drology” technical tour. The tour provided detailed information on the effect of snow on wildlife lifecycles and movement in the Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Wildlife seen on this tour included antelope, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bison, coyote, swans, pelicans and a grizzly bear with three cubs.

Participants also stopped at Jackson Lake Dam to discuss the history and importance of the lake to supply water and power to the upper Snake River area.

The 2014 Western Snow Con- ference will be held in Duran- go, Colorado. Contact Randy Julander for more information.

Iconic barn view of the Grand Tetons, Wyoming

West Regional Conser- The lunch speaker was Tony Willardson, Executive Direc- vationist. tor (Western States Water Oral papers were broken Council). Tony discussed the into Current and Future support role his organization Snow, Modeling Snow- plays as a liaison to Federal Water Equivalent (SWE), agencies and their support of Airborne Observations, agency water management by Observations of Snow, projects and tools such as Modeling Snow and Melt WADE (Water Agency Data and the Environment. Exchange) and providing Oral papers were record- strong political support to ed and will be available identify threats to water in the on the WSC website West. soon.

The technical program kicked The poster session pre- off with a welcoming address sented a variety of snow- from Wyoming State Conser- related research. We Bison foraging in the valley near the Grand Tetons, vationist, Astrid Martinez, were especially pleased Jackson, Wyoming followed by the keynote ad- to welcome many stu- dress by Astor Boozer, dents to the conference.

SnowNews Page 7 WestWide Drought Tracker

The Western U.S. consists of drought monitoring and cli- ping System and the North complex terrain, where precip- mate products. The climate American Land Data Assimila- itation and temperature can data sets, drought indices, tion System Phase 2 vary dramatically across short and maps on WWDT use (NALDAS-2). distances. This, in turn, can monthly data which are updat- Drought indices used include impact local drought condi- ed with new values at the the Palmer Drought Indices, tions. beginning of each month. the Standardized Precipitation The Western Region Climate Data sources include the Pa- Index and the Standardized Center’s WestWide Drought rameter-elevation Regres- Precipitation Evapotranspira- Tracker (WWDT) is a tool that sions on Independent Slopes tion Index. provides access to fine-scale Model (PRISM) Climate Map- For days 1-10 of each month NLDAS-2 data are used to provide an initial view of the spatial patterns before the PRISM data are available.

The 1/8th degree (approximately 12 km) NALDAS-2 temperature and precipitation data are bilinear- ly interpolated to the PRISM grid and bias corrected by accounting for monthly differ- ences in climatology of NLDAS and PRISM over a common time period from 1979-2011.

The PRISM data are then assimilated back into WWDT once it is made available (after day 10 of each month).

PRISM precipitation percentile rankings for the 12 month period

Upcoming events

Events of inter- What: American Geophysical Where: Portland, OR est in the coming Union Science Policy How: Meeting information months. Conference

When: June 24-26, 2013

Where: Washington, DC What: Geologi- What: American Geophysical How: Meeting information cal Society of America 2013 Union 46th Fall Meeting Annual Meeting When: December 9-13, When: October 27-30, 2013 2013 Where: Colorado Convention What: American Meteorologi- Where: San Francisco, CA Center; Denver cal Society 15th Conference on Mesoscale Processes How: Meeting information How: Meeting Information When: August 6-9, 2013

Page 8 June 2013 Water Quality Index for Agricultural Runoff released

Scientists from the NRCS National Water Quality and Quantity team recently introduced a web-based tool that helps producers easily under- stand the quality of water flow- ing off their fields – the Water Quality Index for Agricultur- al Runoff (WQIag).

On the WQIag website, producers provide information about their field, such as slope, soil characteristics, nutrient and pest management, tillage practices and conservation practices. WQIag calculates these variables into a single rating on a 10-point scale: 0 being very poor; 10 being excellent.

Though some variables – such as slope and soil type – won’t change, producers can adjust other factors for a quick estimate of how conservation impacts water quality. A few clicks calculate the value of less tillage, less fertilizer and other conservation practices, making it versatile to use.

Here’s a recent press release with more information about WQIag. The web-based tool is available here. Water Quality Index for Agricultural Runoff web page

More stress management tips

Sequestration... shoulders. Slumping restricts Do Some Math Continuing Resolutions... breathing and reduces blood Using a scale of one to 10, with Travel Restrictions... and oxygen flow to the brain, one being the equivalent of a Cutbacks... adding to muscle tension and minor hassle and 10 being a magnifying feelings of panic and true catastrophe, assign a num- The reality of today’s budget helplessness. Straightening ber to whatever it is that’s mak- situation can be stressful for your spine has just the opposite ing you feel anxious. You’ll find some. Here are a few stress effect. It promotes circulation, that most problems we encoun- management ideas that may increases oxygen levels in your ter rate somewhere in the two to help you weather this storm. blood and helps lessen muscle five range—in other words, tension, all of which promote they’re really not such a big Straighten Up relaxation. deal. When people are under stress, From: Reader’s Digest 37 they slump over as if they have Stress Management Tips. the weight of the world on their

SnowNews Page 9 Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program Resource Locator Here’s a handy reference for finding resources in the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program.

Where What Who How Alaska Forecast Hydrologist Jolyne Lea 503-414-3040 [email protected] Data Collection Office Supervisor (acting) Daniel Fisher 907-271-2424 [email protected] Arizona Forecast Hydrologist Gus Goodbody 503-414-3033 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Dino De Simone 602-280-8786 [email protected] California Forecast Hydrologist Jolyne Lea 503-414-3040 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Greg Norris 530-792-5609 [email protected] Colorado Forecast Hydrologist Cara McCarthy 503-414-3088 [email protected] Data Collection Office Supervisor (acting) BJ Shoup 720-544-2850 [email protected] Idaho Data Collection Officer Phil Morrisey 208-685-6983 [email protected] Forecast Hydrologist Rashawn Tama 503-414-3010 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Ron Abramovich 208-378-5741 [email protected] Montana Data Collection Office Supervisor Scott Oviatt 406-587-6844 [email protected] Forecast Hydrologist Cara McCarthy 503-414-3088 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Brian Domonkos 406-587-6991 [email protected] Nevada Forecast Hydrologist Jolyne Lea 503-414-3040 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Dan Greenlee 775-857-8500 [email protected] New Mexico Forecast Hydrologist Gus Goodbody 503-414-3033 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Wayne Sleep 505-761-4431 [email protected] Oregon Forecast Hydrologist Rashawn Tama 503-414-3010 [email protected] Data Collection Officer Supervisor (acting) Thor Thorson 503-414-3003 [email protected] Utah Forecast Hydrologist Gus Goodbody 503-414-3033 [email protected] Snow Survey Supervisor Randy Julander 801-524-5213 [email protected] Washington Forecast Hydrologist Rashawn Tama 503-414-3010 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Scott Pattee 360-428-7684 [email protected] Wyoming Forecast Hydrologist Cara McCarthy 503-414-3088 [email protected] Water Supply Specialist Lee Hackleman 307-233-6744 [email protected]

All States Center Director/Program Manager Mike Strobel 503-414-3055 [email protected] Database Manager Del Gist 503-414-3007 [email protected] Database Manager Maggie Dunklee 503-414-3049 [email protected] Information Systems Team Lead Laurel Grimsted 503-414-3053 l [email protected] Meteorologist Jan Curtis 503-414-3017 [email protected] Modeling Hydrologist David Garen 503-414-3021 [email protected] Operations Specialist (SNOTEL/SCAN) Rose Loehr 503-414-3042 [email protected] Resource Conservationist Jim Marron 503-414-3047 [email protected] Statistical Assistant/SCAN QC Denice Schilling 406-727-7580 [email protected] Water & Climate Monitoring Team Lead (acting) Tony Tolsdorf 503-414-3006 [email protected] Water & Climate Services Team Lead Tom Perkins 503-414-3059 [email protected]

NWCC highlights

Team Vistronix contractor by Vistronix. According to would support SSWSF Pro- Travis Hoffman joined the Robert Hoch, Vistronix Pro- gram field data collection ac- NWCC in May. Travis is a gram Manager, an Innovation tivities, the second application software developer, concen- Spike is “a small, experimental would allow the Report Gener- trating on new products. A solution to explore / investi- ator application to run on a recent transplant from Arizo- gate solving difficult problems mobile device. Their idea na, Travis is enjoying the with benefits for NRCS and placed second in the Northwest experience. supports the NRCS CIO IT competition. Strategic Plan.” Curt Charles and Dipesh Patel, Team Vistronix, recent- Curt and Dipesh proposed the ly participated in an development of two mobile “Innovation Spike“ sponsored applications. One application

Page 10 June 2013

Products and resources on the web

Federal Support (available at Online converters and Toolbox www.watertoolbox.us) allows calculators Federal agencies, states, inter- The U.S. Army Corps of Engi- state organizations, Tribes, Here’s an interesting web neers recently introduced an non-governmental agencies resource. This site features a online water data resource and international entities to variety of online math and called the Federal Support access and share water re- science calculators and con- Toolbox. source information for their verters. No more searching planning and management. for that fraction-to-decimal The Federal Support Toolbox converter or velocity calcula- is a dynamic, evolving and For additional information on tion. Bookmark this site and comprehensive “one-stop- the Federal Support Toolbox, you’re done. shop” water resource data contact Ada Benavides at portal with direct links to data- [email protected]. bases, innovative programs and initiatives, and state-of- the-art models and tools.

The website also serves as a leading-edge resource for sharing ideas on water-related issues, best management practices, and collaborations and partnerships within the water resources community.

As a centralized data portal, the Federal Support Toolbox

SnowNews Page 11 North American Soil Moisture Database The North American Soil tions, validating accuracy of situ soil moisture observations Moisture Database (NASMD), soil moisture simulations in over the United States, Cana- developed by the Texas A&M global land surface models, da and Mexico. University Department of Ge- and describing how soil mois- The data available cover a ography's Climate Science ture influences climate. wide range of soil texture, land Lab, is a quality-controlled soil The NASMD provides soil cover, elevation and climate moisture dataset. moisture data and metadata, regimes. The dataset aids in investigat- free of charge, to anyone ing land-atmosphere interac- needing historical, accurate in-

NWCC Director presents at drought conference Improving Drought Prediction at was followed by extensive and maintained by their respec- Seasonal to Inter-Annual Time- discussion by a workgroup tive agency or organization, but scales - San Diego, CA April 29 consisting of representatives which complied to a set of mini- - May 1, 2013 from various agencies and mum standards and sensors. private organizations, was the Because NRCS already serves Mike Strobel gave a talk on need for a universal in-situ data for a national network, it “Soil Moisture Monitoring network of soil moisture/ could be the clearinghouse for Needs” at this 3-day confer- temperature monitoring that this network. Much more needs ence. The presentation covered follows set standards for sen- to be discussed and decided in different Federal, state and sor types, measurement regards to a national network, local in-situ networks, aerial/ depths and data format. It was but this is a good first step and satellite coverages, and models felt that the network could be hopefully the ball is rolling to that simulate spatial soil mois- made up of numerous local make this a reality down the ture conditions. One critical mesonets, that could be funded road. point of the presentation, which

Page 12 June 2013 20132013 PhotoPhoto ContestContest Winners!Winners!

Click here to view the winning photos at full resolution

Category: Equipment 1st Place: Jeff Anderson

Snow needles on depth sensor. Clearwater Basin, Idaho. February 2013

2nd Place: 3rd Place: Daniel Fisher Bob Nault

Moraine SNOTEL site above Campbell weather station, High Eklutna Reservoir, Alaska. Atlas Mountains, Morocco October 2012

SnowNews Page 13 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Category: Field Work 1st Place: Tom Perkins

Julie Koeberle and Melis- sa Webb measure snow water content at the Mt. Hood Test SNOTEL site in Oregon. April 2013

2nd Place (tie): Daniel Fisher Click here to view the winning photos Brant Dallas calculates numbers at at full resolution the Sheep Creek snow course in Alaska. February 2013

2nd Place (tie): Julie Koeberle

Melissa Webb carefully removes a soil plug from the snow tube. Tom Perkins assists. Mt. Hood, Oregon. April 2013

Page 14 June 2013 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Category: People 1st Place: Jeff Anderson

Phil Morrisey at the Cool Creek SNOTEL site in Idaho’s Clearwater Mountains. February 2013

2nd Place: Randy Julander

Troy Brosten, Jordan Clayton and Amy Burke at Black Forks Commissary, a ghost town in northern Utah. January 2013.

Click here to view the winning photos at full resolution

3rd Place: Tom Perkins

Melissa Webb is encouraged by Julie Koeberle. Mt. Hood Test SNOTEL site. April 2013

SnowNews Page 15 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Click here to view the winning photos at full resolution

Category: Scenery 1st Place: Daniel Fisher

Historic church at the Yukon- Charlie NPS headquarters at Eagle, Alaska. In May 2009 the Yukon River breakup came up to the church steps and de- stroyed a nearby SNOTEL site. April 2012

2nd Place: Randy Julander 3rd Place: Jeff Anderson Wasatch Plateau looking over Snow needles at the Cool Creek Philadelphia Flats to Haystack SNOTEL site, Idaho. February 2013 Mountain with Mt Nebo in the far background. March 2013.

Page 16 June 2013 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Category: Transportation 1st Place: Daniel Fisher

Hydro-tech Dan Kenney heads back to a Cessna 206 after measuring the Congahbuna Lake, snow course in Alaska. February 2013

2nd Place: Daniel Fisher

Click here to Tolsona snow course measure- view the winning ments on 2/26/2013: 18“ depth, photos at full 2.8“ SWE. NRCS Civil Engineer- resolution ing Tech, Brant Dallas measuring the Tolsona snow course. February 2013

3rd Place: Mike Strobel

Chad Gipson at the USFS Fox Park Patrol Cabin in Bridger-Teton National Forest on the border with Yellowstone National Park. En route to Two Ocean Plateau SNOTEL site. September 2012

SnowNews Page 17 Helping People Help the Land.

National Water & Climate Center Natural Resources Conservation Service Our mission is: "To lead the development and transfer of water and climate US Department of Agriculture www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov information and technology which support natural resource conservation." 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. 1201 SuiteNE Lloyd 802 Blvd. With a vision of the future as: Portland,Suite OR 802 97232 Portland, OR 97232 Phone: 503-414-3038 "A globally-recognized source for a top Editor: Jacquie Workman E-mail: quality [email protected]: 503-414-3038 E-mail: spatial snow, water, [email protected] climate, and hydrologic For issues of SnowNews go to: www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/publications/ network of information and For issues of SnowNews go to: www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/SnowNews/ technology." SnowNews_landing.htm

From the Director’s desk

The other is adaptation to live This evolution in our thinking and in a changing world. This re- our planning is critical. The ques- quires evolution in our thinking, tion about the budget is, “Is this a habits and expectations. temporary situation, or is it a true Changes in temperatures, pre- shift in the climate?” If this is short cipitation, storms and timing of -term, then we try to keep things snowmelt may require adapting running until relief comes. If this is our agriculture, where we live, a true paradigm shift, then we and the activities we pursue. must change with it. That is the However, the ability to adapt is most difficult aspect to forecast, why we have persisted through but time will tell. ice ages and droughts. Hu- n changing times, Last week, I was running in some mans are especially skilled at I adaptation is key. marathons back east. One of the adapting to changing runners had only one leg, ending Times are changing. That environments. could be said both about the at about his knee. He had a run- climate and about Federal It’s a similar scenario for our ning prosthetic made of metal. I budgets. From a climate per- current Federal budget. There talked with him many times during spective, we’ve seen warm- are things we can control and the week. Never did he tell me ing conditions, loss of sea things that we just need to deal how fast he used to be or how ice, increases in atmospheric with the cards we’re dealt. I am difficult it is to run with a prosthet- hopeful that there will be miti- ic. Funny, but his leg never came CO2, and many other changes. One can't deny the data (I gation in the budget outlook up at all. Yet he ran 5 marathons guess one could, but from soon. It is my job to vocalize in 5 days. He had moved on and that perspective, denying that our program concerns and evolved with this new reality of his you have an illness doesn't needs to our leadership in D.C. life. He accepted and adapted. But we, as a staff, also need to make it go away). Like him, we have a lot of change adapt. It is wrong to say that to handle. Some will want to give What we do about change is that we just can't work with up and drop out. The strong will a two-fold issue. There is smaller budgets and less staff. find a way and succeed. Our pro- mitigation, which requires I’m confident that we can, if we gram will move forward and we changing how we live and adapt. We need to focus on will continue to accomplish great requires political and person- what we can accomplish, with USDA NRCS is an equal opportunity things, just not everything we do al determination. This is not the understanding that we employer and provider now. Let’s keep on running an easy hurdle to get over. won't be able to do everything we did in the past. Mike