Low Spring Runoff Predicted

The National Weather Service office in Riverton reported yesterday that the February basin precipitation was 85 to 90 percent of average across Wyoming, although mountain snowpack across Wyoming continues to be around 80 to 85 percent of average. Consequently, says NOAA Hydrologist Jim Fahey, below normal streamflow volumes can be expected this spring across a majority of Wyoming’s watersheds.  Specifically, the Natural Resources Conservation Service reports the Snake River basin as 86% of its normal snowpack for this time of year containing about 89% of the normal water content. Yellowstone basins are a bit higher with 92% of average snowpack and 94% of average water content. At the same time, reservoir storages across Wyoming are near average for early March.  In the Upper Snake River Basin, Grassy Lake Reservoir is at 85% of its capacity, Jackson Lake is 74% filled, Palisades is 37% of its normal storage capacity and American Falls is filled to 85% of its capacity.