Tagged: Snowpack

If you were to go to the banks of the Snake River downstream of Milner Dam near Burley, you wouldn’t see much more than a trickle of water. That’s because the federal Bureau of Reclamation shut off the river flow on June 4.

For at least 25 miles, there isn’t enough water for a kayaker to paddle through. Idaho Power runs the hydroelectric plant at the dam, and says the zero flow will impact its operations through late July.  

Firefighters continue to battle a large blaze in southern California that started last week. At its most dangerous, the wildfire threatened about 4,000 homes and has moved quickly in the dry and windy conditions.

In Idaho, the National Interagency Fire Center predicts a slightly milder – but still above average – fire season.

Later today, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will release a full report on snowpack and water levels in Idaho so far this year. The report will help paint a clearer picture of a complicated water scenario.

Water specialist Ron Abramovich says this year’s snowpack started off strong, but quickly dropped off. That makes for diverse stream levels.

Nearly halfway through winter, Idaho’s farmers and ranchers will soon make plans for their planting season. The latest snow survey by the Natural Resources Conservation Service could give them reasons to be optimistic. Hydrologist Ron Abramovich says that after one of the driest years on record, Idaho’s snowpack is off to a great start.

It's a snow day for many schools in the Treasure Valley including the Boise School District.  Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell schools are just some of the districts that have closed for the day.  Boise State University remains open. 

College of Western Idaho classes and office buildings will start late at 10 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory that will remain in effect through 9 a.m.

The mountains could get up to eight inches of snow today while lower elevations including the Treasure Valley could see up to three inches.

Recent rain has provided some much-needed relief from the dry conditions Idaho has experienced this year.

According to water supply specialist Ron Abramovich, the rain has gone a long way in ending the wildfire season.

“What it did was put a damper on the fire season finally," says Abramovich, who monitors water levels for the National Resources Conservation Service in Boise. "Too bad it didn’t come in September because it would have helped out a lot more then.”

The Pacific Northwest, including most of Idaho, should have a decent whitewater season this year.   Ample snowpacks in the mountains mean good river flows through the summer.  Kayakers and rafters in Idaho north of the Snake River should benefit.