Spring Runoff Has Begun!

It might only be April and we still have freezing temperatures at night, but spring runoff has begun. We have historically reached peak flow on Baker and Lehman creeks on June 15. However, as in most of the West, climate change has caused warmer springs and earlier peak flows. This is of concern because then there's less water for the late summer and early fall, reducing habitat for fish and water for irrigating crops.

I had heard that Lexington Creek was running high, so I went down to check. This creek is usually dry year round down by Pruess Lake, but it was already running into it--in April.

On the southwest side of the lake I found this road being washed out by Lexington Creek.
The little waterfall was impressive. There were fairly recent tracks of someone fording it. That wouldn't be possible now.

The water was really brown. Most of the channel is dirt, so it erodes fast.

We might be seeing more of these washouts in the next couple months. Be sure to always check a crossing before you drive across it. You don't want your vehicle to be washed downstream and then filled with water and sediment!

Further upstream, where this road has been in place a long time, the crossing still looked in good shape, as long as you have high clearance and four-wheel drive.