Concern over Idaho’s Snowpack

GOODING, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — While the snow has been pretty scarce this winter in the Magic Valley, there’s been a decent amount up in the mountains. However, the snowpack levels have Idaho water officials concerned.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources held a snowpack update meeting Wednesday, providing insight on what snow and reservoir levels look like so far this winter season.

“Typically by January 1st, we have about 40% of our snowpack and then by February 1st, we would like to see 60% of the peak snowpack at the basin,” David Hoekema, a Hydrologist for IDWR said.

Hoekema said they start tracking the snowpack each year at the beginning of October.

While the valleys and Northern Idaho have been getting more precipitation, Eastern and Southern Idaho are a little drier compared to last year.

“And this week because we’re not expecting any precipitation, we are expecting that snowpack to hold around 52% statewide,” Hoekema said.

Hoekema said there is concern that snowpack could fall lower if they don’t get any more storms in the next two weeks.

“So after that, we really need see a surge in precipitation, hopefully some atmospheric rivers coming in off the ocean, see that ridge kind of breakdown,” Hoekema said.

When it comes to reservoir storages, the latest reports show those levels are normal across Idaho right now. But they are still keeping an eye on the snowpack, as the water from them helps with agriculture and hydro-electric power.

“If we get through February and we don’t see those storm systems emerging, then we’ll start, encouraging the United States Drought Monitor to start moving Idaho further and further into more serious drought categories,” Hoekema said.

Hoekema said the closest Idaho has come to a drought was back in 2022, but a wet spring helped prevent that.

The hope is our state won’t need to rely on that this year.

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