03/16/05 Any hope for snow pack?, Part two

Some of the many pieces of evidence that shows that much of the Northwest is preparing for potential drought can be seen in Oregon. For example, the reservoirs that supply water to the agricultural areas of the state will not be filled near normal operational levels. That is due to lack of snow pack, and February precipitation at twenty eight per cent of average. That has led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to hold public information meetings later this month in Mid-Willamette Valley communities to discuss conservation plans to assure enough water for irrigation, home use, and fish survival. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation meanwhile is in the process of implementing its drought management plan for the Klamath Basin with plans including how water delivery will be made by Klamath irrigators. Scott Pattee and others working for U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service offices in the Northwest will tell you what is fueling the ramp up of drought preparations is the unusually mild weather for the region, and the resulting melt of snow pack. PATTEE: Snow pack we're seeing right now is more reminiscent of June One snow pack. The amount of snow pack that we have, honestly the quality of snow pack where we have the high densities that we're seeing in the snowpack, meaning that it's closer to melting out than it normally would be at this time. But might there be a chance that at least some moisture will accumulate in the region that could provide some relief from this potential drought? Case in point, the year precipitation wise that 2005 is being compared to & 1977. That was the last time it has been this dry in much of the Northwest. But Pattee notes there was eventually a reprieve of sorts from lack of snow pack in the winter months of 1977. PATTEE: We virtually had no snow on the ground up until March First. Beginning through March, we got a big dump of snow, actually gained a lot of snow in the mountains that really helped out. April, May were very cool and wet, mostly rain, but cool and wet months that really helped out, actually helped filled the reservoirs and boost the stream flow. So it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. But of course, to simulate 1977, there has to be a sudden change in the weather in 2005, meaning cooler, wetter conditions in the last days of March, through April and May. And even then, would it make a difference in the Northwest? More on that in our next program.