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SPRING AND SUMMER STREAMFLOW FORECASTS ABOVE AVERAGE

June 5, 2008

For More Information:
Roy Kaiser, 406-587-6991
Ivy Allen, 406-587-6971

Bozeman -- Statewide, June 1 snowpack was 148 percent of average and 374 percent of last year. The Columbia River Basin was 145 percent of average; Missouri River Basin was 155 percent of average; St. Mary River Basin was 118 percent of average; and the Yellowstone River Basin was 155 percent of average.

May mountain precipitation in the Columbia River Basin was 100 percent of average; Missouri River Basin was 143 percent of average; St. Mary was 133 percent of average; and Yellowstone River Basin was 162 percent of average.

“There is still enough mountain snow remaining for most rivers to peak again from snowmelt,” said Roy Kaiser, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) water supply specialist. “June snowmelt peaks will be dependant upon temperature and rainfall.”

Statewide, streamflow forecasts average between 105 and 122 percent. West of the Continental Divide, streamflow forecasts average between 102 and 113 percent, and east of the Continental Divide, streamflow forecasts average between 107 and 127 percent.

Below are averaged river basin streamflow forecast summaries for the period June 1 through July 31. These forecasts do not account for well below average (70% or less) or well above average (130% or more) snowmelt or rain. Specific forecast probabilities are available in each individual River Basin Report.

Streamflow Forecasts
River Basin June-July this Year Percent of Average June-July Last Year Percent of Average
Columbia 102 to 113 57 to 68
--Kootenai 103 to 113 74 to 86
--Flathead 106 to 118 67 to 75
--Upper Clark Fork 84 to 100 54 to 68
--Bitterroot 112 to 124 37 to 47
--Lower Clark Fork 119 to 123 48 to 57
Missouri 102 to 123 30 to 47
--Jefferson 89 to 115 16 to 35
--Madison 118 to 126 45 to 53
--Gallatin 120 to 131 42 to 53
--Missouri Mainstem 106 to 118 28 to 39
--Smith-Judith-Musselshell 107 to 133 25 to 44
--Sun-Teton-Marias 105 to 124 41 to 57
--Milk 84 to 125 46 to 66
St. Mary 94 to 111 69 to 86
Yellowstone 120 to 137 40 to 54
--Upper Yellowstone 112 to 126 38 to 53
--Lower Yellowstone 132 to 153 44 to 57
Statewide 105 to 122 43 to 57

NOTE: The JUNE-JULY LAST YEAR % OF AVERAGE column above is last year’s forecasts on June 1 (not what actually occurred).

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