In the West, some states are enjoying their best snowpack in years. And early too. In others, the new year has only brought more dry weather. That鈥檒l mean significant water problems later in the year.
Let鈥檚 start with the 鈥渉aves.鈥�
with snow this winter. Storm after storm has delivered, leaving river basins for the South and North Platte well above average percent for the amount of precipitation received so far this water year, which begins Oct. 1.
Staying on the eastern half of the Continental Divide, eastern Wyoming is snowy too. That鈥檚 a big improvement from one year ago when was designated as being in 鈥渆xtreme鈥� or 鈥渆xceptional鈥� drought. Further up the Divide, eastern Montana too has seen above average snowpack.
Jump across the Continental Divide and the 鈥渉ave-nots鈥� are many.
on record. The first part of January hasn鈥檛 delivered much snow, and there won鈥檛 be enough to go around for the state鈥檚 agricultural regions. The drought has reached such epic proportions that religious leaders are asking congregations
A snowpack map of Oregon shows the dire situation in the Cascades. Hydrologists there are , affecting the state鈥檚 fisheries, tourism-dependent businesses and hydroelectric power plants.
While Northern Colorado is sitting pretty, could be in for some trouble if spring snow storms don鈥檛 roll through. There鈥檚 been little respite for residents of the Arkansas River valley near Rocky Ford. in high winds at Christmas-time outside La Junta.
Conditions aren鈥檛 nearly as bad in Colorado鈥檚 San Luis Valley, an agricultural powerhouse, but could devolve quickly. Farmers in the traditionally dry region are paying close attention.
Not yet. Actually we have fair snow cover still but there's a little dirt starting 2 blown next to the roads where it's melting.
— Rob Jones (@JonesOrganics)
All this spells bad news for the western half of the country. USDA forecasters announced this week that water supplies are projected to be tight the rest of 2014, affecting everyone from farmers to water managers to municipal leaders to fishermen.
