Report finds strong Idaho snowpack, precipitation

IDAHO FALLS (AP) - A recent report finds a majority of Idaho has above-average snowpack and precipitation levels halfway through the wet season.

The report, issued by the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, paints an encouraging picture for water users later this year, but experts caution that there's still time for the trend to reverse.

"We're only going into the 5th inning. We still have half a game in front of us," Ron Abramovich, a Boise-based water-supply specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, told the Post Register.

The strong precipitation has been seen in much of the Intermountain West, with the exceptions of California, Oregon and Washington, which continue to suffer from shortages.

In a normal winter, Abramovich said, Idaho's panhandle sees more precipitation than the rest of the state. But the roles have switched this season, with North Idaho snowpacks as low as 65 percent of normal, while other parts of the state are at 100 percent or above, he said.

As of Friday, he said, the Upper Snake River Basin was at 116 percent of normal, Abramovich said.

The report called the snow season unusual with early snows around mid-November, followed by a dry spell and then major dumps in December. One to two months of dry weather starts to affect water supplies, but can be overcome with additional precipitation, the report said.

Another big storm or two should set up Idaho for close to normal snowpack and water levels come April 1, Abramovich said. "We're looking at adequate irrigation supplies for Snake River water users, so that's great news," he said.