Dry, warm April raises water supply worries for North Idaho
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 3 weeks AGO
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | May 11, 2025 1:00 AM
A dry, warm April has led to reduced streamflow predictions and created water supply concerns in several basins, including the Coeur d’Alene-St. Joe.
"Since last month, moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions have expanded in northern Idaho and along the Idaho-Montana border into central Idaho," according to the May Natural Resources Conservation Service's Idaho water supply outlook report.
Idaho basins received only 60 to 75% of their normal precipitation in April. Coupled with warmer than normal temperatures, which accelerated the spring runoff season, 47% of Idaho lands are abnormally dry or are in drought compared to 40% in March.
"The seasonal drought outlook forecasts drought conditions will persist in these areas over the next three months," the report said.
The report said runoff between October through April was well below normal in the Idaho Panhandle and "reflects the longer-term dry conditions in that region."
"In northern Idaho, streamflow forecasts decreased from last month and are well below normal," the report said.
Streamflow forecasts are higher in the Pend Oreille-Kootenai Basin (81 to 90%) than in the Coeur d’Alene-St. Joe Basin (Spokane River headwaters), which now range from 66 to 82% of normal.
Precipitation in the Panhandle basins in April was 70% of normal and Water Year 2025 continues to be below normal with total water year precipitation ranging from 80 to 90% of normal May 1.
Snowpack peaked in the Coeur d’Alene-St. Joe Basin at 90% of normal March 26. Snowpack peaked in the Pend Oreille-Kootenai Basin at 101% of normal March 25.
Snowmelt is occurring at an above normal rate; and as of May 1, the Panhandle basins have 65 to 80% of this year’s peak snowpack remaining.
According to the report National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 30-day outlook predicts increased chances for above normal temperatures.
Reservoir storage at Priest Lake is 100% of normal, which is 83% full. Lake Coeur d’Alene is 94% of normal and 83% full. Pend Oreille is 96% of normal and 57% full.
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