MAY 2008 ISSUE

According to the May 1, 2008, “Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report,” (snow survey http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/snow) much of the state ended the snow year on a very dry note, but cooler than average temperatures helped maintain the snowpack. Western Nevada had an exceedingly dry April following a dry March and February. The northeast portion of the state ended the season with average to above average conditions. Generally streamflows are expected to remain low this spring and summer. The exceptions will be the northeast corner of the state, the east side of the Ruby Mountains, and the Colorado River. While the state is in much better shape than last year, it will be another dry summer. After a dry 2006 and 2007, reservoir storage is also low. Meeting all water demands will be much harder this year than it was last year for many areas of the state.

SNOWPACK

Basin	Last Year Percent of Average	This Year Percent of Average
Lake Tahoe	15	56
Truckee River	34	57
Carson River	18	56
Walker River	40	75
Northern Great	20	93
Upper Humboldt River	21	102
Lower Humboldt River	37	92
Clover Valley & Franklin River	0	144
Snake River	70	114
Owyhee River	6	106
Eastern Nevada	55	59

PRECIPITATION

Basin	April Percent of Average	Water Year Percent of Average
Lake Tahoe	15	75
Truckee River	14	78
Carson River	13	67
Walker River	13	91
Northern Great	57	92
Upper Humboldt River	60	97
Lower Humboldt River	52	92
Clover Valley & Franklin River	77	106
Snake River	95	103
Owyhee River	105	100
Eastern Nevada	14	68
Lower Colorado River	0	51

     
U.S. Drought Monitor and U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook 
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/drought_assessment.shtml

 
Long Term Palmer Drought Severity Index
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/palmer.gif

CONCEPTS FOR THIS WEBPAGE

This web site provides BLM Nevada’s drought information and direction. It is intended for use by BLM personnel, public land users, and the public. A public website allows everyone with an interest to see the information that BLM is using in its drought planning and management. Although many of the principles behind BLM’s drought guidance are well established, using a website allows updates when weather conditions warrant. BLM Nevada’s drought management guidance and policies are designed to meet or comply with our multiple use mandate, land use plan objectives, other applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and achieve land health. Plus, if the predicted increase in weather variability and extreme events happens, the value of a venue such as this may increase.

While other topics will appear on this web site, the main subjects will be precipitation, expected plant growth, and livestock grazing management. BLM authorizes livestock grazing on most of the public lands in Nevada. Drought has two obvious impacts on public land grazing, reduced forage production and reduced amount and availability of drinking water. Both situations have repercussions beyond range management. Sometimes livestock management has to be modified in response to drought, and sometimes it can be used to manage drought impacts.

This website will be updated monthly from November through May. In the Great Basin this is when the precipitation occurs that determines the amount of vegetation produced in the next growing season. Big storms and unique events might also warrant updates. The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) snow surveys are read monthly from January through April (www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/wsf.html). This is one of the better predictors of water availability in Nevada. By May most grazing management decisions have been made. Although this website focuses on drought, the common weather problem in Nevada, some of the ideas are applicable to other issues.