New stream flow forecasts vary
Washington Ag Today April 9, 2010 Washington’s summer stream flow forecast based on the snow pack April 1st varies from 94 percent of average for the Elwha River in western Washington to 43 percent for the Spokane River on the east side. That is the report from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s April Water Supply Outlook. Forecasts for some other watershed stream flows are 61 percent of average for the Yakima at Parker, the Walla Walla at 71 to 72 percent and the Wenatchee at 68 percent. The Columbia River at the Dalles is forecast at 65 percent of average. NRCS Water Supply Specialist Scott Pattee says the snows received since April 1st could change some stream flow forecasts. Pattee: “We might see some increases but they are not going to be that great even with the feet of snow that we received in places. We have to remember that the places that we received a lot of snow in those storms were fairy high elevation sites and basins that represent a smaller land mass. It is the lower elevation snow that we just didn‘t have all winter and we don‘t have now is really the reason our forecasts are still being drug down.” April 1 is considered the most important date for determining spring and summer stream flows because after that date, snowpack accumulations typically begin shedding their moisture in the form of stream flow runoff. So how does Pattee sum up the outlook? Pattee: “It is kind of a mid-range year. It is not perfect by any means but I don‘t think we are going to see real ill effects either.” I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ?
