Water board update
David Hoekema – IDWR Hydrologist/Committee Chair – Overview
High points:
April and the first half of May have been drier and warmer than normal … and thus, snow is melting off faster than expected … and the amount of streamflow runoff has been less than expected. Soils were dry coming into the winter, so some is sinking directly into the ground.
That’s been the story across Idaho and the West, officials said, we’re seeing a rapid meltoff in the spring, and we are not seeing the strong snowpack numbers we had during the winter translate into strong streamflow runoff so far this spring, Hoekema said.
However, reservoir storage is strong across Southern Idaho … so that could make up the difference for summer irrigation water supply
Boise River reservoir system is expected to fill to 100%
Payette River reservoir system is expected to to fill to 100%
Owyhee River reservoir system is full … two-year supply in Owyhee Reservoir.
Upper Snake reservoir system should fill or come close to full
All of that is good news for farmers, ranchers, anglers and boaters
