Late December storms have put Idaho’s water supply outlook back on track.
According to a report released this week by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, mountain precipitation and snowpack are near average throughout most of the state.
Monthly precipitation has increased each month since the water year began in October, when totals were below average. November faired slightly better with amounts ranging from 85-105 percent of average. December started dry but ended in a very stormy pattern, bringing total precipitation since October to 83 percent of average in the Panhandle to 123 percent of average in the basins south of the Snake River.
The lowest snowpacks are in the Spokane and Northern Idaho Panhandle region at roughly 60-70 percent of average, while the Clearwater, Salmon, Weiser, Payette, and Bear Basin snowpacks are 75-90 percent of average. Elsewhere, across central and southern Idaho, snowpacks range from 90-120 percent of average.
Reservoir storage is a mixed bag, some have more than this time last year, while others have less. Current storage levels are near or above average in the Clearwater, Payette, Boise and Upper Snake reservoir systems.
Reservoirs in Central Idaho and south of the Snake River are below average due to a disappointing runoff last spring and the lingering effects of drought.
