Western Snowpack Woes

The West entered spring with April 1 snowpack at or near record lows, leaving water managers to brace for shortages in the months ahead. (nrcs.usda.gov) Snowpack is the mountain snow that acts like a natural reservoir, storing winter moisture and releasing it as runoff in spring and summer. The Natural Resources Conservation Service says that runoff is the basis of water supply forecasting across the West. (nrcs.usda.gov) In Idaho, the Natural Resources Conservation Service said the statewide snowpack peaked on March 17, nearly three weeks early, at 68% of normal. By April 1, about 25% of that snowpack had already melted, and the agency said it was one of the lowest snow years since measurements began in the 1930s. (content.govdelivery.com) Idaho officials responded by declaring a drought emergency in all 44 counties last week as forecasts pointed to irrigation shortfalls and stressed rivers. Local reports said 54 snow-course sites and 45 SNOTEL stations in the Snake River Basin logged record-low April 1 snow-water equivalent values. (kivitv.com, idahobusinessreview.com) In Colorado’s Roaring Fork watershed, the local conservancy said snowpack was 24% of normal on April 9 and 21% of normal by April 22. Several lower-elevation monitoring sites that usually hold snow into May were already down to almost nothing. (roaringfork.org, roaringfork.org) That changes the shape of summer, not just the total water available. Roaring Fork Conservancy said low-snow years usually bring an earlier runoff peak, lower late-season flows, warmer water for fish, and a shorter window of boatable water for rafters. (roaringfork.org, aspentimes.com) Colorado’s dry winter also revived interest in cloud seeding, a weather-modification practice that tries to squeeze more snow from storms that already exist. KUNC reported April 21 that Colorado’s program manager had fielded new inquiries from two major ski resorts after this winter’s record-low snowpack. (kunc.org) For Pacific Crest Trail hikers, less snow does not simply mean an easier season. Backpacker reported some stretches of the West Coast snow map were as low as 4% of normal, a setup that can mean earlier river surges, dry water caches and springs, and a faster start to wildfire season. (backpacker.com) The Pacific Crest Trail Association already directs hikers to separate water and closure reports because conditions can change quickly as spring turns to summer. In a low-snow year, the problem shifts from deep drifts to finding reliable water and navigating fire-related detours. (pcta.org) The core problem is simple: less snow fell, more winter precipitation arrived as rain, and warm spells melted what did accumulate weeks early. By late April, the West was no longer waiting to see whether the snow would show up; agencies were planning around the runoff that never will. (nrcs.usda.gov, content.govdelivery.com)