Western Water Concerns

If the current trend of well below normal snowpack in the Western Coast mountain ranges continues well into 2014, it would be more than the Western irrigators impacted with the lack of water runoff filling reservoirs this spring and summer.

USDA meteorologist Eric Luebehusen says

Luebehusen: "It is very important for municipal water use. Urban areas that are relying on upstream water -- areas well to the east in the mountains. And if it's not there that turns the screws on water management. It really creates a tough situation because you have to be proactive in these kind of situations where you have a dry weather pattern and a dry start to your water year. You kind of have to assume that the current weather is going to continue for the foreseeable future and that is the most prudent approach."

Cities and urban water managers along the Pacific Coast worry about the lack of mountain snowpack so far this season, and in turn, a potential lack of water resources so far.

Luebehusen, explains why the Western mountain snowpack replenishing municipal water supplies is critical.

Luebehusen: "It's not like in the Central and Eastern United States where your water comes from not too typically far away. Across much of the Western United States, they have large water management systems and a lot of this water comes from the snow melt. That spring slow snow melt that recharges your reservoirs and if you don't get the snow you won't get the snow melt. We've seen dry starts to the water year that have been erased by a blockbuster finish and that is what we have to hope for the Western United States."