Streamflow outlook dims; moisture a concern for grain growers
Washington Ag Today March 9, 2010 Almost all hope for average stream flows this summer are melting away along with Washington’s snow pack. According to the latest Basin Outlook Report compiled by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, statewide March 1st snowpack conditions have receded to 70 percent of average – down from 74 percent a month ago. Scott Pattee, water supply specialist with the NRCS in Mt. Vernon, says “Record high elevation temperatures, combined with an obvious lack of precipitation, have dwindled snowpack averages in all areas of the state.” Those below-average snowpack conditions are translating directly to lower stream flow forecasts. March 1st snow pack for some specific river basins were Yakima at 74 percent of average, Wenatchee at 81 percent. Walla Walla was at 68 percent of average with the Spokane at only 52 percent. Only the Conconully basin reported above-average snowpack conditions, at 106 percent of average. Pattee says it is March, and we’ve had strong snowpack rebounds before but with each passing day, the odds become more difficult to overcome. The February Weather Review from the Washington field office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that the winter wheat crop generally looks good across the state. Moisture however, is a concern for grain producers. Ben Barstow grows wheat, barley and dry peas in Whitman County. Barstow: “The moisture situation is a cause for concern. We are a lot drier than we would like to see. Some places we have taken soil samples and have run out of moisture at that third or fourth foot level. We need more rain.” I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ? ? ?
