Water Supply Forecast Shows Record Snow in Northern Parts of West, Parched in Southwest

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Spencer Miller, Natural Resources Conservation Service, on April 14, 2014 at 1:00 PM

Streamflow in the West consists largely of accumulated mountain snow that melts and flows into streams as temperatures warm. (NRCS photo)

March storms increased snowpack in the northern half of the West but didn’t provide much relief for the dry southern half, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) in its April 2014 water supply forecast.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), most of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and northern parts of Colorado and Utah are expected to have near normal or above normal water supplies, according to the forecast.  Far below normal streamflow is expected for southern Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah and western Nevada.

Early April is commonly regarded as the transition from snow accumulation to snowmelt, making the April 1 water supply forecast of key importance for planning, according to NWCC hydrologist Cara McCarthy.

“Many water managers, reservoir operators, irrigation districts and hydroelectric power companies make significant strategic decisions based on the April forecasts,” McCarthy said.

In states where snowmelt accounts for the majority of the seasonal water supply, information about snowpack serves as an indicator of future water supply. Streamflow in the West consists largely of accumulated mountain snow that melts and flows into streams as temperatures warm. NRCS scientists analyze the snowpack, air temperature, soil moisture and other measurements taken from remote sites to develop the water supply forecasts.

For the second consecutive month, many snow telemetry, or SNOTEL, sites in Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon received two to three times the normal amount of precipitation. The Cascade Mountains in Washington went from extremely dry in January to a normal snowpack currently and Montana and Wyoming snowpack is now at record levels.

“There’s flooding potential in the Missouri River basin,” McCarthy said. “These areas will be most vulnerable if snow melts rapidly during a hot spell, or if there’s extreme rain while the streams are swollen with snowmelt.”

NRCS’ streamflow forecasts are one of the tools used to assess drought conditions. USDA is partnering with western states to help mitigate the severe effects of drought on agriculture.

Since 1939, NRCS has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts. Since the late 1970s, NRCS has been installing, operating and maintaining an extensive, high-elevation automated system called SNOTEL, designed to collect snowpack and related climatic data in the western U.S. and Alaska.

The center will continue to monitor and forecast water supplies for the next two months. View the April Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecast map or view information by state. And to learn more about how NRCS is helping private landowners deal with drought, visit NRCS’ drought resources. You can also visit USDA’s disaster and drought information page.

Watch the April water supply forecast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoK5Vdd3NUc

Christmas Tree Grower Branches Out

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Catherine Bailey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon, on December 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Christmas trees are a staple crop for many farms in Oregon, including this tree farm off Interstate 5. (NRCS photo)

During a time of year more often associated with consumption than conservation, Daniel Logan, owner and operator of Logan Tree Farm near North Plains, Ore., shows that managing and preserving the land yields both profit and holiday cheer.

Raising Christmas trees is a family business for Logan, who can remember pruning and clipping trees as early as six years old. His family has grown Christmas trees in the area since 1883, and he continues the tradition, managing about 35 acres of Christmas trees, including Douglas, Noble, Grand and Nordmann Firs.

While the Pacific Northwest may be the among the largest producers of Christmas trees in the nation, growers face a number of challenges, including managing land for extended and sustained use, while coping with both unpredictable weather and volatile commercial markets.

Logan recognized the need for conservation to improve his land and in 1992 began working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to plant cover crops. His goal was to reduce the need for chemical use and improve soil quality.

Logan eventually enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program, a Farm Bill conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to producers interested in conserving and enhancing natural resources on their property. With CSP assistance, Logan continues to reinforce and expand cover crops on his Christmas tree farm.

“It just seemed like the natural next step,” Logan said of his decision to enroll.

Since planting cover crops on his property, Logan has witnessed a number of benefits, including improved soil quality, a reduction in soil erosion and improved tree health. The land is also less muddy, which proves helpful in keeping trees clean and presentable for sales.

“It’s like working on a carpet,” Logan said.

All of these conservation efforts contribute to an improved crop yield, which can only mean good things for locals looking to find that perfect tree. Logan expects to sell upwards of 1,800 trees this year alone, with Noble firs standing out as his top sellers.

“The Noble is a good keeper,” Logan said. “They stand up well, and they’re just really pretty.”

Even so, Logan warns that even healthy, sturdy trees have a shelf life and shouldn’t be kept much longer than two to three weeks. While it’s possible to extend this time by a couple of days by lowering your home’s thermostat several degrees and keeping trees a safe distance away from any heat sources, Logan is adamant that most trees should be disposed of prior to a month.

As Logan and NRCS move forward in their partnership to improve soil quality and strengthen crop yields, the future for Christmas trees in Washington County, Ore. looks bright.