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Snow survey shows summer water supply looking good

Hydrologists say "no worries" this year for summer water supply.

BOISE COUNTY - All this snow over the last couple weeks has really helped Idaho’s snowpack. Although, the Boise Basin is still below average, hydrologists say this summer’s water supply is looking good.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture heads up to Mores Creek Summit at the end of every winter month to monitor and measure snow depth and water content, the amount of water stored in the snow.

"So far, we're about 70% of average for the Boise Basin,” said hydrologist Ron Abramovich.

The data helps determine what the summer's water supply could possibly look like.

“To give farmers and irrigators an idea if they're going to have an adequate irrigation supply or not,” said Abramovich.

This year’s snowpack, as of February 28th, sits about 65 inches; about 30 inches less than what we saw last year and with about half the amount of water content.

“What we've seen is the stream flows are flowing above average right now from last year's snowpack, and the reservoirs are in good shape across the state as well. So most irrigators across the state are going to have adequate irrigation supplies,” said. Abramovich.

It's music to many water users like farmers as they prepare for the upcoming agriculture season.

“In a short water year, they might go with a crop that wouldn't take the water demand, like a wheat or barley,” said Boise River Water Master Rex Barrie. “High water crops, like potatoes and sugar beets, and things like that, they can plan to plant for something like that because we know we're going to have an adequate supply.”

This next month is critical because the reservoirs are so high. If March is relatively dry, Abramovich says there’s already enough water content in the snow to fill up Boise’s reservoir system.

“We know we still have enough water to fill the reservoirs,” said Abramovich.

However, if March is relatively wet, water managers may have to make room.

“The reservoir operators will have to release more water,” said Abramovich.

Snowpack usually peaks about the beginning of April.

However, Abramovich and his team will continue to measure the water content and snow depth at Mores Creek Summit, if snow allows.

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