03/10/05 Drought conditions worsen

When the State Water Supply Committee meets in Boise today they're going to get more bad news. The NRCS says that water users in northern and central Idaho are facing record low snowpacks. Ron Abromovich says a very dry February put a damper on an already low water supply outlook. ABROMOVICH "We had precipitation amounts that ranged from three tenths of an inch to two inches and those are more typical of what falls in the summer time in the mountains of Idaho rather than in the middle winter." And speaking of winter, did we have one this year? In addition to being dry it was very mild. ABROMOVICH "And we just need the cold wet weather to return not just for a week or so but for a month or two to get the moisture up in the mountains where we need it." Streamflow forecasts decreased another 15 percent last month and now range from 35-65 percent of average for most of the state. Panhandle February precipitation was only 22 percent of average. Clearwater River snowpack is at 46 percent of average. This year marks the first time in 49 years that the Moscow Mountain snow course did not have snow on March first. Upper Snake River February precipitation was below average for the fourth consecutive month at only 56 percent, second highest in the state. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott