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KUNC is among the founding partners of the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration of public media stations that serve the Western states of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

A 鈥榟istoric鈥� winter continues to ease drought conditions in the Mountain West

A snow-packed road with high snow banks on either side and a freeway overpass seen in the distance
Courtesy Of Wyoming Department of Transportation
A look a the snowpack levels in Wyoming near I-80 between Rawlins and Rock Springs as seen on Feb. 24, 2023. Diminishing drought conditions in some Mountain West states are driven by the West鈥檚 鈥渉istoric鈥� winter.

In mid-March, nearly 80% of Nevada was experiencing drought conditions. Now, it鈥檚 of the state, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, or .

dropped from 73% to about 32%, and isn't seeing extreme drought anywhere in the state for , though about 40% of the state is still considered to be in moderate drought. (32.2%), (37.9%) and (31.3%) have seen little recent changes in drought levels, according to the U.S. Drought Portal.

Gretel Follingstad, the U.S. Drought Portal鈥檚 Intermountain West drought early warning system coordinator, said the diminishing drought conditions are driven by the West鈥檚 鈥渉istoric鈥� winter.

鈥淲e are seeing over 100% of normal snowpack and precipitation levels,鈥� said Follingstad, who鈥檚 based in Boulder, Colorado.

But what that means for the region鈥檚 water supplies over the next several months 鈥� in terms of stream flows and aquifer and reservoir levels 鈥� will depend on the rate of snowmelt, she said.

鈥淚f the melt occurs quickly, and we have flooding events, then that will eliminate the potential for good groundwater recharge because groundwater is recharged through slow infiltration,鈥� Follingstad said.

This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .
Copyright 2023 KUNR Public Radio. To see more, visit .

Kaleb Roedel
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