03/02/05 Streamflow forecast revised downward

The NRCS has just revised its streamflow forecasts for April through July. Ron Abromovich says because of two dry months in a row, the Clearwater and Salmon basins will only have about 53 percent of average stream flows this spring. ABROMOVICH "The Weiser is forecast at 44. The Payette at Horseshoe Bend is also 44 percent of average. The Boise River near Boise is 52 percent. The Big Wood below the Magic reservoir is only 35 percent of average. The Upper Snake has Henry's Fork at 71 percent and the Snake River at Heise at 70 percent. Oakley Reservoir inflows forecast at 62, Salmon Falls at 60, Bruneau at 55 percent of average, Owyhee Reservoir inflow at 47 percent." The highest in the state is the Bear River basin, the only one that's above normal. Abromovich says eastern Idaho surface water users can expect about the same amount of water as last year. ABROMOVICH "But the other basins in central Idaho and especially the Weiser and Payette we're looking at much lower water supplies this year then previous years." And what we don't need is a repeat of last year which saw some records set in March and April because of a lack of rain or snow. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott