Snowpack

[boneaddict]

Where there was 14 feet of snow last year there is less than a foot this year.  Its making it pretty easy for the deer, but we better pray for late summer rains as fire season is going to be a RIPPER

[chrisb]

This should decrease fawn/yearling mortality rates though right? Making for me not eating tag soup next fall?

[boneaddict]

Well Chrisb, it might make for an easier winter, but foliage and summer forbs and water or the acute lack of could cause even bigger problems.  May even shut the season down.........

[GUscottie]

Honestly makes me sad...

[Red Dawg]

having no snow is not good for everyone. But I would guess that we will get some eventually when it will hurt the animals the worst.

[boneaddict]

I guess at least we got TONS of rain  and the ground wasn't frozen so alot of it went in. 

[Buckshot Bill]

Well Chrisb, it might make for an easier winter, but foliage and summer forbs and water or the acute lack of could cause even bigger problems.  May even shut the season down.........

I would have to agree with what bone is saying.  It will have some serious ramifications for the lack of snow pack on many things.  One thing for sure you will see some serious water restrictions happen all over the state.  I hope we do get a lot of snow soon and frequently to build some sort of pack to last for part of the summer.  If the reseviours don't get replenished during the summer months it will be brutal.

[GUscottie]

I pray that we get a wet spring and summer

[washelkhntr]

 

[Special T]

You NEVER have to pray for rain one the Wetside!  been pretty nice over here lately!

[alecvg]

Its global warming      Seriously though, its gonna be an early fire season, I really hope we get alot of rain this summer.

[boneaddict]

El Nino strikes again.

[Special T]

Guess its time for you guys on the dry side to thin the brush and do a little pre burning. 

[bobcat]

I can drive to places right now that i could never drive to until May usually. I've never seen a winter like this.

Were you not living here in 2005?  We didn't have any snow in the mountains that winter. I drove over Colockum Pass in late December without even needing 4 wheel drive. Later in the winter, I think late February, my wife and I drove up to about 5000 feet in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest south of Randle and went on a hike. There was a couple inches of snow but in a normal winter there would probably have been 10 feet.

I don't know about having a bad fire season. Seems there are so many times they have predicted a bad fire season because of a relatively dry winter, or a hotter than average summer, and it doesn't happen. Just like last year, one of the hottest summers ever and barely any fires.

I actually hope we do have a lot of big fires. Nothing is better at creating good deer and elk habitat. We've got lots of areas that haven't seen a fire in a long time and are way overdue.

[MooseStock]

Its great for animal survival.....and Lousy for Fish/Salmon survival......its all cyclical....always has been....always will be..................OH yeah....it gives the powers to be a great EXCUSE to raise our power rates if its justified or not.....always has been....always will be...........................Les

[Cougeyes]

I actually hope we do have a lot of big fires. Nothing is better at creating good deer and elk habitat. We've got lots of areas that haven't seen a fire in a long time and are way overdue.

I agree, I know several areas around here that are way overdue, the trees are basically all dying or already dead from bark beetle or other causes, so dense there is no understory, not great habitat.

I'm glad there is little snow this year, the deer around here need it, the population is going downhill.  Hopefully there will be enough rain and late winter snow to offset any drought that may happen.  Although if we're basing whether there may be a drought from the current conditions  it isn't looking to well.

[bobcat]

Funny, I just saw on the news that there is more snow on Mission Ridge than there ever has been at this time of year, 42 inches they said.

Also, I think it's a little early to think there won't be much snow this winter. We're only 1/3 of the way through winter. Plenty of time left for some major snowstorms.

[halflife65]

I'm worried about my irrigation water...could be a problem for those of us in Kittitas Valley.

[CMG]

Were you not living here in 2005?  We didn't have any snow in the mountains that winter.

  Interesting subject, and one I am learning more on every year. I have a small piece of property out of riverside towards Concunully with a lake that is reliant solely on rain/snow melt each year. the lake was at it's lowest from 1993 thru 1995. it arose almost 8'-0" in 95' thru 96' I remember getting 3-4 Ft. of snow those years which is a lot in that area. the lake kept full thru 2005. It has been on a steady decline since then and is back down to -8'-0", the lowest I have seen it since 95'? I was hoping for the cycle to return so the lake would rise back up, guess I'll have to wait another couple of years. It is real apparent when the lake is full there is a lot more wildlife around! Let's hope for a late winterblast 10'!!!

[rosscrazyelk]

Great. Bad snow pack = dry plants and not as much water for the animals = bad antler growth= I will probably finally get drawn for my big bull tag= shooting a dink

[Pathfinder101]

Great. Bad snow pack = dry plants and not as much water for the animals = bad antler growth= I will probably finally get drawn for my big bull tag= shooting a dink

Funny you mentioned that.  Last "easy" winter was 2005/2006 and we had the Columbia Complex Fire in the Blues.  Buddy of mine drew a tag...And wound up eating it....

[Alchase]

In 1976 the skiing lodges did not even open. They litterally had no snow. I was going to race that year and Snoqualmie and Alpental did not get enough to even cover the ground.

Here is a list of snow pack by the "least" amount.

http://www.nwac.us/media/uploads/pdfs/Ranking_Northwest_Snowpacks.pdf

[boneaddict]

I was thinking 79 was a horrible year.  No snow at new YEars in Twisp.  Maybe it was earlier than that.  I know Carter was in office......

I figure if Bush gets blamed for hurricanes I might as well blame droughts on the democrats.

[Alchase]

How is the Methow doing this year?

[Pathfinder101]

I was thinking 79 was a horrible year.  No snow at new YEars in Twisp.  Maybe it was earlier than that.  I know Carter was in office......

I thought it was '79 too.  I know it was only a couple of years before my dad died.  I was a little kid (about 7), but I remember driving waaaaaayyyy up Mount Abercrombie in December.  Dad kept going on and on about there being no snow.  If it were 76 I don't think I would have remembered.

[Huntbear]

Here is a good resource for snow depth, water, temp, etc...

http://www3.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nwcc/sntlsites.jsp?state=WA

Take for example.  Spencer Meadow.  Normally this time of year, between 5-7 ft. of snow.  Only 3 ft of snow right now.

Temps are actually rising above freezing during the day.  Elevation is about 3400 ft.

[Idabooner]

How is the Methow doing this year?

In the mid valley below 3000 ft. we haven't had any rain, just foggy wet air, a few snow showers. It's been the warmest January I've seen in 74 years, with freezing most nights and up to 35-40* in the day. The ground is frozen with 6"-12" of snow. There was a crust you could walk on for a couple days, now it's mostly soft, coyotes sinking 2" deer clear to the ground. The deer are not hanging in the normal wintering areas, they are scattered and feeding on new ground mostly. The ones I've seen look to be in good shape. The ravens and eagles seem to be working above 3000 ft. so I'm guessing that's where the predator action is. That's the best I can describe from the Carlton area.

The coyotes are scattered to and hard to find,    mostly mousing. I've about got my hundred hours in on the river so must be about ready for another fish.

[boneaddict]

Madison and I are supposed to go hiking Friday. It should snow a foot thursday night.

[hirshey]

Let's hope for lots of public land having some good spring burns to help jumpstart that browse... busy summer for me!

[ICEMAN]

No kidding, with things this warm, how early will they start prescribed burns?

[Red Dawg]

went up the wenas today and there is nothing but mud. Surprisingly there are a ton of elk at welfare.

[hirshey]

No kidding, with things this warm, how early will they start prescribed burns?

It'll still be late March/April at the earliest... depending on funding and when they can get enough early hires to do the groundwork.

[ICEMAN]

Thanks hirshey.

[swanny]

It's scary how little snow there is this year. I'm up at Snoqualmie every Thursday night for ski races and can't believe how bare it is driving up the pass. Even the surrounding 5,000ft plus hills have bare spots on them. The conditions have been very Spring like all last month, hopefully they improve some this month, wouldn't mind a couple powder days.

Was riding at Baker on Saturday and there were creeks that I have never not seen covered in snow. You had to make sure to pay attention good to where you were going or you were stuck and hiking out a ways.

[Pathfinder101]

finally getting some here in the Blues.  Mountains are white this morning..

[Shootmoore]

No kidding, with things this warm, how early will they start prescribed burns?

It'll still be late March/April at the earliest... depending on funding and when they can get enough early hires to do the groundwork.

I used to love the Green Weenies prescribed burn season, always meant some early overtime on dry springs when they got away from them. Was also a good time to stock up on the nice leather work gloves. Made sure I had a good trading stock in the spring.

Shootmoore

P.S.  So to even out my term of endearment for the FS I'll tell one on myself.  Whats Red and sleeps 3 comfortably?.........A DNR engine.....DNR vs. Forest Circus was always in good fun, the peons always got along it was more up the food chain where friction occurred.  Not sure how it is now days as I have been out for 16 years.

[Alchase]

Thank you for he report Idabooner!

[hirshey]

I used to love the Green Weenies prescribed burn season, always meant some early overtime on dry springs when they got away from them. Was also a good time to stock up on the nice leather work gloves. Made sure I had a good trading stock in the spring.

Shootmoore

 
P.S.  So to even out my term of endearment for the FS I'll tell one on myself.  Whats Red and sleeps 3 comfortably?.........A DNR engine.....DNR vs. Forest Circus was always in good fun, the peons always got along it was more up the food chain where friction occurred.  Not sure how it is now days as I have been out for 16 years.
[/quote]
Ha! Good one! We are generally all on good terms still. There's always the few and the proud that take it far too serious.. but really we all do the same job. (except you (the DNR) doesn't get hazard pay for it). There's always plenty of work for all.. and we much appriciate you holding the lines while we burn off of them. hehe.

In all seriousness, its always fun to meet new people who also enjoy the same job I do.. definitely looking forward to those spring burns this season.. it'll be much-needed browse soon afterwards.

[hirshey]

Thanks hirshey.

Anytime.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea it was always fun to watch a crew of forest circus guy do the work of one DNR guy. Then watch them throw the wrong end of their hose down the hill!!

[hirshey]

Oh so funny.. that mentality is why the Auhtanum 20 person crew (who has been trying to get hotshot status for years now) always has the most injuries.. and yes, the most fireline... but also the most fireline that consistantly needs to be improved by us forest circus crews.

(I jest... sort of)

The rappel crew in Wenatchee has plenty of old DNR folks on it... solid guys.

[Lowedog]

Mission Ridge is supposedly at 109% of normal for this time of year.  Last year we had a bunch of snow by new years and it all melted off through Jan.  Early Feb 2009 we were at around 80% most places.  Ended up getting it all back through the rest of the winter.  Up high there is lots of snow.  I have been snowmobiling and once you get above 4000' it starts piling up. 

[MichaelJ]

I think we'll be alright really... seems like there's been a lot of moisture this year just none of it has stuck down low.  I guess only time will tell and there's still quite a bit of winter left for the snow to accumulate up high.

Michael

[washelkhntr]

I just have a feeling that this year, the snow is gonna hit us hard in March and April. 

[bobcat]

I just have a feeling that this year, the snow is gonna hit us hard in March and April. 

Or February...

[kramman]

Went snowmobiling for the first time last weekend above Conconully hardly any snow in town but once we got above 4000 ft there seemed to be plenty of it.I dont know what is normal so im just guessing.The deer in the area that I saw looked healthy and the bucks were still packin. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Gonna be too dry to open the Timber Co. land for Muzzy Loaders this year I expect.  Good news for us rifle guys