Oregon saw quite a boost in snowpack recently, but not enough to overcome the shortage of snow.
A new snow survey reports that February and March were wet months for the state. Both months logged above average precipitation, but most of it fell as rain.
Overall, the snowpack throughout Oregon is below normal for this time of year. The northern part of the state in the Grand Ronde region has an above-average snowpack.
The southern parts of the state, like the Rogue and Klamath Basins, have snowpack levels significantly lower than normal.
Julie Koeberle is with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She says this is not a normal situation for Oregon, and the lack of snowstorms in the winter months didn’t help.
“What it means for spring and summer time is reduced stream flows. So reduction of stream flow means some people don’t get water for irrigation or their agricultural needs," Koeberle says. "There’s less water for fisheries and hydropower. In some cases recreation.”
Koeberle says in the coming months the snowpack usually begins to melt. She says any snow from now on is a bonus.
Copyright 2014 Oregon Public Broadcasting
