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MOUNTAIN SNOWPACK SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE AND ABOVE LAST YEAR

Mar 5, 2008

For More Information:
Roy Kaiser, 406-587-6991
Robert Moler, 406-587-6842

NRCS employees, Roy Kaiser and Scott Oviatt ground truth automated SNOTEL site near West Yellowstone, Montana.Bozeman -- February mountain precipitation was 109 percent of average. Water year precipitation is 105 percent of average. West of the Continental Divide, the Columbia River Basin February mountain precipitation was 113 percent of average. East of the Continental Divide, the Missouri River Basin was 105 percent of average, the St. Mary River Basin was 126 percent of average, and the Yellowstone River Basin was 101 percent of average.

"Even though March 1 snowpack is near average overall, water users and water managers need to pay particular attention to local basins affecting their water supplies," said Roy Kaiser, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) water supply specialist. "There are several localized areas where snowpack and streamflow forecasts are below average."

Snowpack

On March 1, seasonal snowpack accumulation statewide should be about 80 percent, with about 85 percent in the Columbia River Basin and about 75 percent in the Missouri River Basin. There are normally about four to six weeks remaining until the seasonal snowpack peak is reached. Statewide mountain snow water content was 107 percent of average and 123 of last year at this time. West of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 109 percent of average and 122 percent of last year. East of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 103 percent of average and 122 percent of last year.

Snow Water Content
River Basin Percent of Average Percent of Last Year February Percent Change
Columbia 109 122 +6
--Kootenai, Montana 117 118 -2
--Flathead, Montana 107 121 +6
--Upper Clark Fork 93 111 +8
--Bitterroot 115 135 +5
--Lower Clark Fork 127 136 +13
Missouri 105 120 +4
--Missouri Headwaters 106 130 0
----Jefferson 105 126 +5
----Madison 106 134 -7
----Gallatin 109 136 +2
--Missouri Mainstem 102 105 +11
----Headwaters Mainstem 97 105 +9
----Smith-Judith-Musselshell 95 97 0
----Sun-Teton-Marias 110 122 +13
----Milk 114 84 +37
------Bearpaw Mountains 95 83 +41
------Cypress Hills, Canada 127 84 +32
St. Mary 110 126 +13
St. Mary & Milk 111 109 +22
Yellowstone 98 124 +2
--Upper Yellowstone 103 128 +1
--Lower Yellowstone 94 122 +3
Statewide 107 123 +4
Streamflow

Streamflows across Montana are forecast to average 85 to 99 percent of normal. West of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 90 to 99 percent of normal. East of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 81 to 98 percent of normal.

Below are averaged streamflow forecasts, by river basin, for the period of April 1 through July 31. These forecasts assume near normal spring conditions and do not account for well below average (70% or less) or above average (110% or more) snowmelt or spring rain. Specific forecast probabilities are available in each individual River Basin Report on the Montana NRCS web page.

Streamflow Forecasts
River Basin April-July this Year Percent of Average
Columbia 90 to 99
--Kootenai, Montana 95 to 103
--Flathead, Montana 92 to 99
--Upper Clark Fork 80 to 94
--Bitterroot 96 to 104
--Lower Clark Fork 97 to 102
Missouri 80 to 98
--Jefferson 74 to 96
--Madison 104 to 112
--Gallatin 97 to 108
--Missouri Mainstem 95 to 110
--Smith-Judith-Musselshell 49 to 66
--Sun-Teton-Marias 87 to 104
--Milk 80 to 109
St. Mary 98 to 105
Yellowstone 85 to 98
--Upper Yellowstone 89 to 100
--Lower Yellowstone 80 to 95
Statewide 85 to 99

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