Arizona snowpack piles up — well above normal spring runoff expected

[Snow Bird]

Arizona snowpack piles up — well above normal spring runoff expected
Feb 7, 2008 10:16 AM

Water resources specialists from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and cooperating partners are forecasting well above normal spring runoff in Arizona’s major rivers and streams based on recent snowpack measurements in Arizona’s mountain watersheds.

Statewide, the Feb. 1 snowpack measured 138 percent of the 30-year average, compared with 71 percent a year ago. The Salt River, Verde River, Little Colorado River, and San Francisco-Upper Gila River Basins have well above normal snow levels for this time of year. The San Francisco Peaks area near Flagstaff is at 204 percent of average as of Feb. 1.

Several major snowstorms during January added to an already above-normal snowpack throughout the mountains of northern and eastern Arizona. NRCS water resources specialist Dino DeSimone said that as a result of these conditions, the forecast calls for normal to well above normal streamflows in all basins during the spring snowmelt season.

“The snowpack and precipitation totals continue to improve, despite all the previous predictions that this was going to be a dry winter,” said DeSimone.


http://westernfarmpress.com/news/snowpack-runoff-0208/

[hatrack]

1. Ah, if only I had time to raft the Salt this year . . . .

Alas!

[phantom power]

3. One of my last kayak trips was a 4-day Salt run.

:patriot:

[hatrack]

6. Looks like a pretty awesome run . . . . plenty of III and IV, with saguaro all around . . .

(snowbound *sigh*)

[phantom power]

7. It was a great run. III and IV all the way.

One section is through a canyon with vertical walls. I prefer being able to get out and run away, especially on a river I've never run before. But it was gorgeous.

[phantom power]

2. Good.

Took the kid up to Wing Mountain this weekend for her first sledding. Big Fun.

[timeforpeace]

4. Oh crap. Another year without drought doom and gloom.

[depakid]

5. This year's been an anomaly in the usual el nino patter

Thrown off the forecasters on several continents.