2008 PAST MONTHS DROUGHT REPORT

*Note: The monthly drought report will resume in October.

MAY

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

APRIL

According to the April 1, 2008 “Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report,” (snow survey http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/snow) March was a dry month. All Nevada and Eastern Sierra watersheds received less than normal precipitation for the month. Values ranged from 87% of average for the Snake River watershed in Northeastern Nevada to 12 % of average for the Lower Colorado watershed. Due to the storms from December into February, water year precipitation for Northern and Northeastern Nevada and the Walker River watersheds remains near to above average. But the other Eastern Sierra, Eastern Nevada, and Lower Colorado watersheds were at 70 to 83% of average water year precipitation as of April, 1. The snowpack is holding out fairly well. The snowpacks in the Carson River and Lower Colorado watersheds were 82 and 81% of average, respectively, on April 1. All other parts of Nevada had greater snowpack. The Northern Nevada watersheds still had over 100% of average snowpack, with the Lower Humboldt River watershed at 120%, the high. Snowpack, precipitation, and predicted summer streamflows for all Nevada watersheds are 150 to over 200% of last year’s values.

According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, Nevada’s weather for the next 3 months is expected to remain generally dry. As a result areas of drought are expected to persist.

MARCH

According to the March 1, 2008 “Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report,” (snow survey http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/snow) all surveyed watersheds were at least at 100% of normal snow pack, except the Northern Great Basin area which was at 99% of normal. The Eastern Nevada area had the greatest relative snow pack at 134% of normal. Eastern Sierra watersheds ranged from 102% of normal for the Truckee River to 115% of normal for the Walker River. While Nevada’s snow pack is doing much better than last year, the month of March has been dry and the good snow pack reflects the abundant snowfall from December through early February. With the exception of Salmon Falls Creek, the Owyhee River, several creeks in northern Surprise Valley and the Truckee Meadows, all other watersheds in Nevada are predicted to have average to above average streamflows through July. The drier areas are predicted to have greater than 85% of average streamflows through July.

According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, Nevada’s weather for the period March through May will be warmer than normal, being slightly warmer in northwestern Nevada with increasing departure from normal going southeast through the state. Western Nevada and the northern edge of the state are expected to receive around normal precipitation. The eastern half of the state is expected to be slightly drier than normal. Temperatures in the mountains should stay cool enough to maintain relative snow pack levels. As a result the Seasonal Drought Outlook shows persisting drought over southern California and southern Nevada. Mountain snow pack will produce spring runoff. To the north, improvement is anticipated over the northern Great Basin.

FEBRUARY

In Nevada, and much of the west, drought is predictable and common part of the climate. Climate change could exacerbate drought issues in the Great Basin. BLM drought planning and management is becoming a routine part of public land management.