NRCS: Oregon Snowpack Below Average

Oregon’s statewide snowpack currently sit at 74% of average, but the NRCS says that figure does not tell the whole story.  NRCS’ Scott Oviatt told the Washington Ag Network basins in the northern portion of the state are very close to normal for this time of the year.  As you move south snowpack figures drop to below 70%, 60% and in some cases 50% of average.

“People that need to be concerned are those who are reliant on surface and stream flows because we are fully anticipating lower stream flow volumes than we normally see due to lack of snowpack feeding into those systems.”

Oviatt said at this point, Oregon Ag needs a cool spring to ensure water this summer.

“For instance now, if we have an extended period of warm weather we could lose the limited amount of snowpack that we have like we did in 2016, but if we’re able to maintain it and have cooler and cloudy conditions like we’re experiencing right now, we hold on to that snowpack longer which adds to the contribution later in the year.”

Oviatt said on the positive side many of the state’s reservoirs are near 100% which indicates good water supplies for those that use irrigation.

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