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.
“The very tip of the panhandle is in good shape with streams forecasted at near normal," says Abramovich. "But down into southeast Idaho and the Bear River and the Upper Snake -- it’s only the first month since December basically that they’ve had normal precipitation.”
Abramovich says farmers could use some rain now. He says that would allow farmers to use storage water later in the season when they will really need it.
“But the good news is this delay in snow melt," he says. "So if we can delay this melt to have more snowmelt later in the year, it would be better than having it come off too early.
The colder than normal spring has reduced the demand on irrigation during the early part of the growing season.
Copyright 2013 Boise State Public Radio
