April 2, 2001-- Reported by Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst
Don't let the rain fool you. It may be good for the flowers. But it hasn't done a thing for our long-term water supply.
And the news today on that is much worse than expected.
"There are not only worries, but they've escalated significantly. And with the snowpack numbers we're seeing, it's going the wrong direction," says Randy Julander with the Utah Snow Survey.
The latest numbers reported today are the April First snowpack measurements.
They're among the most critical numbers of the year, because snowpack usually peaks in early April.
And the numbers look very bleak. In fact the snowpack is so poor it surprised even experts who already expected bad news.
The month of March was a net loss. The water supply outlook is worse than ever.
Today was a day when flowers perked up and took a drink.
And when water experts looked at the snowpack situation and swallowed hard.
"We were concerned. We're even more concerned now," Julander says.
The snowpack surveyors usually expect the April First snowpack report to be the highest of the year: after March snowstorms, before the spring thaw.
Instead, today's numbers are lower than a month ago, because there was little snow in March, and the snowmelt has already begun.
The Bear River drainage dropped from 68 percent of normal to 54 percent. Weber-Ogden drainage from 75 to 63. Provo River, 63 percent of normal a month ago. 55 percent now.
"In fact," Julander says, "It was bad enough that you could see the previous month's measuring holes."
Meaning what?
"Meaning, we didn't even get enough snow to cover up a two inch hole!" he explains.
In a month?
"In a whole month! In a whole month! We needed 200 to 300 percent of normal. We got zip, is what it boils down to. March has turned into a big goose egg."
The current rainy period is insignificant; too little, too late. And the snow that's melted so far has done little to help. It's mostly gone into the ground instead of into storage reservoirs.
"Underscores the message with big, bold letters. The message becomes conservation! Conservation! Conservation!" Julander says.
The worries are serious now, and will escalate this summer if the contrary weather continues.
"Phenominal heat, increased demand. Water use goes out the window. Hope for a cool summer," he says.
Water managers have already begun preaching conservation.
Perhaps most important is to water your lawn wisely, without wasting water.
If you don't know how, give your local water supplier a call and they'll connect you with plenty of information. Or click here for water-saving tips and see the other resources listed above.
