Basin precipitation still below average      

January 27, 2010

   As of Tuesday, most areas in the Klamath Basin remained below average for snow-water equivalent with a 75 percent of average for the entire Basin, according to data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

   The Klamath Basin has measured 72 percent of its average total precipitation for the water year, while Lake County has measured 82 percent of average.

   The Klamath Basin snow water equivalent is up from last week, when the same reading was only 70 percent of average.

   The lowest readings, 45 and 54 percent of average, were reported at Fish Lake and Diamond Lake, while Gerber Reservoir was at 60, Billie Creek Divide at 65 and Sevenmile Marsh at 68 percent. Recent storms pushed the averages to 142 at Crowder Flat, 113 at Silver Creek and 106 percent at Taylor Butte. Both Crowder Flat and Silver Creek are also included in the Goose Lake Basin in Lake County.

   In Lake County, the Goose Lake Basin-wide average is higher, at 90 percent of average. Areas with the lowest percentages are Sheldon with 67 percent and Quartz Mountain at 72 percent. Along with Crowder Flat and Silver Creek, which overlap with the Klamath Basin, helping to increase the overall average was Cedar Pass at 102 percent of average.  

   To get updated figures on current water conditions visit the Bureau of Reclamation Web site at  www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao. 

   The term “water year” refers to the hydrological water year that begins each Oct. 1. The date was chosen because it is the beginning of the period when precipitation typically begins for the fall and winter season.

   — Lee Juillerat