Brian Domonkos, Water Supply Specialist, NRCS presents Snow survey data at the 2013 Clark Fork River Basin Task Force Water Outlook meeting.

1. Clark Fork Task Force Meeting
October 23rd, 2012
Brian Domonkos
Water Supply Specialist
Brian.Domonkos@mt.usda.gov
www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

2. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum
Upper Clark Fork River Basin with Non-Exceedence Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Median

3. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum
Bitterroot River Basin with Non-Exceedence Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Median

4. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum
Blackfoot River Basin with Non-Exceedence Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Median

5. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum
Flathead River Basin with Non-Exceedence Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Median

6. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum
Lower Clark Fork River Basin with Non-Exceedence Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Median

8. Showing Data For 5/24/2013 % Average LY % Avg % Last Year % of Avg Peak Norm % Avg Peak %of TY Peak
Columbia In Montana 73% 104% 70% 43% 59% 45%
Kootenai ab Bonners Ferry 78% 146% 54% 44% 56% 43%
Kootenay in Canada
Kootenai in Montana 78% 146% 54% 44% 56% 43%
Kootenai Mainstem 83% 158% 53% 47% 56% 46%
Tobacco 85% 120% 71% 57% 67% 53%
Fisher 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Yaak 49% 150% 33% 28% 56% 25%
Clark Fk ab Pend Orielle 73% 96% 75% 43% 59% 45%
Clark Fork River Basin 59% 85% 70% 34% 57% 38%
Upper Clark Fork Basin 60% 72% 84% 40% 66% 44%
Flint Creek 7% 0% 2% 35% 3%
Rock Creek 7% 35% 21% 5% 64% 6%
Clark Fork ab Blackfoot 38% 53% 73% 25% 66% 31%
Blackfoot 83% 93% 89% 52% 63% 52%
Clark Fork ab Flint Creek 52% 62% 84% 38% 73% 43%
Bitterroot River Basin 40% 74% 54% 18% 46% 22%
West Fork Bitterroot 51% 61% 84% 27% 53% 30%
East Side Bitterroot 33% 59% 57% 20% 59% 24%
West Side Bitterroot 49% 94% 52% 20% 41% 24%
Flathead River Basin 91% 108% 85% 60% 66% 58%
NF Flathead in Canada
Flathead in Montana 91% 108% 85% 60% 66% 58%
NF Flathead in Montana 96% 120% 80% 66% 68% 61%
MF Flathead 98% 118% 83% 69% 70% 62%
SF Flathead 87% 89% 98% 53% 61% 50%
Stillwater-Whitefish 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Swan 93% 104% 90% 74% 79% 67%
Mission Valley 100% 123% 82% 69% 69% 67%
Little Bitterroot-Ashley
Jocko 84% 93% 91% 57% 68% 56%
Lower Clark Fork Basin 65% 108% 60% 33% 51% 36%

9. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Upper Clark Fork River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

10. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Jefferson River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

11. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Bitterroot River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

12. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Blackfoot River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

13. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Flathead River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

14. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1-Oct
1-Nov
1-Dec
1-Jan
1-Feb
1-Mar
1-Apr
1-May
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
SnowWaterEquivalent(Inches)
Lower Clark Fork River Basin with Non-Exceedance Projections
Basedon Provisional SNOTEL Data as of May 24, 2013
Average WY2013 Minimum 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% Maximum

16. 0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
0.00
3.00
6.00
9.00
12.00
15.00
18.00
21.00
24.00
27.00
30.00
33.00
36.00
10/01/10
10/29/10
11/26/10
12/24/10
01/21/11
02/18/11
03/18/11
04/15/11
05/13/11
06/10/11
07/08/11
08/05/11
09/02/11
09/30/11
10/28/11
11/25/11
12/23/11
01/20/12
02/17/12
03/16/12
04/13/12
05/11/12
06/08/12
07/06/12
08/03/12
08/31/12
09/28/12
10/26/12
11/23/12
12/21/12
01/18/13
02/15/13
03/15/13
04/12/13
05/10/13
DailyPrecipitation(inches)
SoilMoistureResponseand
AccumulatedSnowWaterEquivalent(SWE)
Date
Nevada Ridge SNOTEL Water Year 2011-13
Soil Moisture Response Data
24-Hr Precip Accumulated SWE Avg 4" SMR Avg 8" SMR Avg 20" SMR Avg 40" SMR

17. 0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
3.00
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
55.00
60.00
10/01/10
10/29/10
11/26/10
12/24/10
01/21/11
02/18/11
03/18/11
04/15/11
05/13/11
06/10/11
07/08/11
08/05/11
09/02/11
09/30/11
10/28/11
11/25/11
12/23/11
01/20/12
02/17/12
03/16/12
04/13/12
05/11/12
06/08/12
07/06/12
08/03/12
08/31/12
09/28/12
10/26/12
11/23/12
12/21/12
01/18/13
02/15/13
03/15/13
04/12/13
05/10/13
DailyPrecipitation(inches)
SoilMoistureResponseand
AccumulatedSnowWaterEquivalent(SWE)
Date
Mt. Lockhart SNOTEL Water Year 2011-13
Soil Moisture Response Data
24-Hr Precip Accumulated SWE Avg 4" SMR Avg 8" SMR Avg 20" SMR Avg 40" SMR

18. May 1 Volumetric Streamflow Forecasts
Basin/Station Name
MAY-JUL
50%
Forecast
(KAF)
Average
(KAF)
Last Year Obs
Strmflow (KAF) % of Avg
% of Last
Year
Strmflw
Kootenai River Basin 11325 11097 17778.9 102% 64%
Kootenai R at Leonia 5790 5730 9181.9 101% 63%
Upper Clark Fork River Basin 1836.8 2469 2709.9 74% 68%
Little Blackfoot nr Garrison 37 56 48.4 66% 76%
Flint Ck nr Southern Cross 5.9 10.5 7.1 56% 83%
Flint Ck bl Boulder Ck 28 45 36.0 62% 78%
Lower Willow Ck Reservoir Inflow 2.2 8.5 4.4 26% 50%
MF Rock Ck nr Philipsburg 36 53 49.2 68% 73%
Rock Ck nr Clinton 135 220 233.6 61% 58%
Nevada Ck nr Helmville 7.7 11 14.0 70% 55%
Blackfoot R nr Bonner 530 590 690.4 90% 77%
Clark Fork R ab Milltown 260 445 468.2 58% 56%
Clark Fork R ab Missoula 795 1030 1158.6 77% 69%
Bitterroot River Basin 1356 1525 1653.0 89% 82%
Bitterroot R nr Missoula 890 990 1069.0 90% 83%
Flathead River Basin 17255.4 14982 19796.6 115% 87%
Flathead Lake Inflow 5700 4940 6672.2 115% 85%
Lower Clark Fork River Basin 21545 21404 26542.8 101% 81%
Clark Fork R at Whitehorse Rapids 9190 8740 11148.3 105% 82%

19. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Streamflow(cfs)
Runoff(in)
WY 2013 Upper Clark Fork Runoff NEVADA RIDGE
Prec
PETERSON
MEADOWS Prec
STUART
MOUNTAIN Prec
ROCKER PEAK
Prec
N FK ELK CREEK
Prec
SKALKAHO
SUMMIT Prec
WARM SPRINGS
Prec
BASIN CREEK Prec
BARKER LAKES
Prec
BLACK PINE Prec
PETERSON
MEADOWS SWE
STUART
MOUNTAIN SWE
ROCKER PEAK
SWE
N FK ELK CREEK
SWE
NEVADA RIDGE
SWE
SKALKAHO
SUMMIT SWE
WARM SPRINGS
SWE
BASIN CREEK SWE
BARKER LAKES
SWE
BLACK PINE SWE
RO Line
Clark Fork above
Missoula MT

20. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
Streamflow(cfs)
Runoff(in)
WY 2013 Blackfoot at Bonner Runoff
STUART
MOUNTAIN Prec
NORTH FORK
JOCKO Prec
NEVADA RIDGE
Prec
N FK ELK CREEK
Prec
LUBRECHT FLUME
Prec
STUART
MOUNTAIN SWE
NORTH FORK
JOCKO SWE
NEVADA RIDGE
SWE
N FK ELK CREEK
SWE
LUBRECHT FLUME
SWE
RO Line
Blackfoot River
near Bonner MT

21. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
Streamflow(cfs)
Runoff(in)
WY 2013 Blackfoot at Bonner Runoff
STUART
MOUNTAIN Prec
NORTH FORK
JOCKO Prec
NEVADA RIDGE
Prec
N FK ELK CREEK
Prec
LUBRECHT FLUME
Prec
STUART
MOUNTAIN SWE
NORTH FORK
JOCKO SWE
NEVADA RIDGE
SWE
N FK ELK CREEK
SWE
LUBRECHT FLUME
SWE
RO Line
Blackfoot River
near Bonner MT

22. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1-Mar 15-Mar 29-Mar 12-Apr 26-Apr 10-May 24-May 7-Jun 21-Jun 5-Jul 19-Jul
Streamflow(cfs)
Snowpack&Year-to-DatePrecipitation(in)
Blackfoot at Bonner Streamflow, Snowpack & Precipitation
LUBRECHT FLUME
SWE
N FK ELK CREEK SWE
NEVADA RIDGE SWE
NORTH FORK JOCKO
SWE
STUART MOUNTAIN
SWE
LUBRECHT FLUME
Prec
N FK ELK CREEK Prec
NEVADA RIDGE Prec
NORTH FORK JOCKO
Prec
STUART MOUNTAIN
Prec
Blackfoot River near
Bonner MT

23. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
Streamflow(cfs)
Runoff(in)
WY 2013 Bitterroot River near Missoula Runoff SADDLE MTN.
Prec
NEZ PERCE CAMP
Prec
TWIN LAKES Prec
TWELVEMILE
CREEK Prec
SKALKAHO
SUMMIT Prec
DALY CREEK Prec
LOLO PASS Prec
NEZ PERCE CAMP
SWE
SADDLE MTN.
SWE
TWIN LAKES SWE
TWELVEMILE
CREEK SWE
SKALKAHO
SUMMIT SWE
DALY CREEK SWE
LOLO PASS SWE
RO Line
Bitterroot River
near Missoula MT

24. • Snowpack Peaks
– Between Apr 22 & 26 – two - three weeks later than normal
– Only the Flathead peaked at normal
– All other basins peaked between 80 & 95% of normal
– Worse snowpack further south
• Despite late peak, snowpack has been melting rapidly,
faster than average and snowpack is currently below
average
• Soil moisture conditions have trended downward since
WY 2011, would expect summer to be even drier than
last year without well above average summer precip
• May 1 Runoff forecasts are favorable in northern basins
and below average to poor in southern basins
• Because of rapid snowpack melt, anticipate June 1 and
extended summer forecasts to be below average
Review

25. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers,
employees and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital
status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is
derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in
any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency’s EEO Counselor
within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel
action. Additional information can be found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992
to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the
form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20250-9419, by fax at (202) 690-7442, or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an
EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program
complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail or by email. If you require
alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.), please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).