Bulletin Board

Winter Snowpack Below Normal

February 9, 2000

The five-finger slide area north of Snowbird Ski Resort, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. The water content measured at Snowbird snow course is 91 percent of normal. On average the snowpack is 78 percent of normal.

Since 1915, Salt LakeCity has measured the snowpack in the Wasatch Mountains in order to forecast the City's water supply for the summer months. This practice continues today as an integral part of Salt Lake City's water  management program.

Dan Schenck and Larry Alserda make a living measuring things. They are the Hydrology Department.  During the winter months, one of their primary jobs is  to measure the winter snowpack within the seven canyons east of Salt Lake City.  This winter they have been measuring less water content in the snow than normal.  Just completing their February jaunt into the  mountains, they report that the water content measured at the City's 12 snow courses is on average about 78 percent of normal.  According to Dan Schenck, hydrologist, in his February  Snow Survey Report, "The month of January brought a much needed 16 percent increase in the percentage of normal." The highest reading of 91 percent of normal water content was measured  at Snowbird Ski Resort at the 9,160 foot elevation. The lowest reading was at the 5,500-foot elevation Hidden Springs snow course in City Creek with a water content of 44 percent of normal. 

Mr. Schenck noted that the average was 82.6 percent of normal above 7,500 feet and 70.9 percent below the 7,500-foot elevation.  Mr. Schenck cautions that the remaining snow season  produces 50 percent of the annual snowpack, so things can change over the next 3 months.  History has shown that even a below normal snowpack at this time of year can drastically change  with above normal snowfall during the remainder of the year.  Likewise, if it remains drier, the numbers can be lower.  "You never can tell what Mother Nature will do, he exclaims. As to the projected run-off this coming spring, Mr. Schenck believes that it may be less than  normal if the current weather regime continues.  However, he states, "Reservoirs in the surrounding mountains are at near capacities and should fill with even a slightly below normal  runoff.  Water supplies should be adequate due to this storage…" All of the major reservoirs supplying water to Salt Lake County are expected to fill this coming spring.

Historic and current snowpack measurements  taken at the 12 snow courses are on Public Utilities' Web page under: www.slcgov.com/utilities/snow_survey.html