Nevada State Basin Outlook Report for April, 2013NEVADA Water Supply Outlook Report as of April 1, 2013 This year is ending with fairly similar snow and precipitation numbers as last year did. While the Sierra Nevada range started off the New Year with phenomenal snowpack numbers, a dry January, February, and March have left western Nevada in very dry shape. The remainder of the state has fared just as poorly with dry conditions dominating the region for a second year in a row. A hoped for Fabulous February or even a Miracle March failed to materialize, leaving us hoping for an Awesome April to try to recover somewhat from the hole the state is currently in. While reservoir storage is adequate for the main populated areas of the state, meeting all water needs this summer is going to be very difficult to do, leaving many areas facing shortages and having to make some difficult decisions regarding irrigated agricultural acreage. Water users will need to work closely with their suppliers to determine the extent of any restrictions that may apply this year. Areas with poor reservoir storage or agricultural areas that get their water directly from a river or creek can expect these flows to decline earlier than normal this year. |
EASTERN NEVADA as of April 1, 2013 Snowpack conditions in Eastern Nevada are well below median. Snow water content is 50 percent of the April 1 median. Last year, snow water content was 55 percent of median. March precipitation was 26 percent of average. Water year precipitation, beginning October 1, was 76 percent of average. Last year, March precipitation was 82 percent of average and water year precipitation was 82 percent of average. Streamflows are expected to be well below average. Steptoe Creek, near Ely, is expected to flow at 26 percent of average or 700 acre-feet during the April-July forecast period.
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.
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.
One Page Attachment "Statement of Reasons" for Protesting SNWA 1989 Applications
This one page attachment to a standard protest form includes reasons you can check off and add to if you wish. See our action alert for additional information on protests or use our easy to fill in protest form which has already included reasons in a checklist format that can be filled out and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. (http://greatbasinwater.net/pubs/Protestform.pdf). Download report (33.5 Kb)
Six Page Attachment "Statement of Reasons" for Protesting SNWA 1989 Applications
This six page attachment to a standard protest form includes detailed reasons. See our action alert for additional information on protests or use our easy to fill in protest form which has already included reasons in a checklist format that can be filled out and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader. (http://greatbasinwater.net/pubs/Protestform.pdf). Download report (56.0 Kb)
Protest Form
Download this Protest Form of SNWA's applications in Spring, Cave, Delamar, and Dry Lake Valleys by clicking on the link below. See our Action Alert on this page for information on filing a protest of SNWA's 1989 Applications. Download report (73.2 Kb)
Maps of 1989 Applications in Spring, Cave, Dry Lake, and Delamar Valleys Download report (2.3 Mb)
Water Gab - March 2011
Download to get all the critical information on the re-noticing and new protest period for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's water applications in Spring, Delamar, Dry Lake, and Cave Valleys. Download report (381.5 Kb)
GBWN URGENT ACTION ALERT
STOP THE WATER GRAB BY PROTECTING WATER AND WATER RIGHTS IN SPRING, CAVE, DRY LAKE AND DELAMAR VALLEYS. Download the alert by clicking below. Download report (69.2 Kb)
Authorization to join Great Basin Water Network Protests
In order to join GBWN’s protests, your authorization must reach our office no later than March 18, 2011. Download report (43.9 Kb)
List of SNWA Applications Open for New Protest Through March 24, 2011†
The 25 Southern Nevada Water Authority applications shown for 126,054 acre-feet of groundwater exported through a 300-mile-long pipeline annually are open to protest once again after the Nevada Supreme Court sided with the Great Basin Water Network on behalf of protestants and invalidated earlier State Engineer rulings. Download report (39.8 Kb)
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
441 PM PST SUN DEC 26 2010
...SNOWIEST AND WETTEST DECEMBER IN ELY, NV...
THIS DECEMBER HAS BEEN THE ALL-TIME SNOWIEST AND WETTEST DECEMBER
ON RECORD IN ELY, NV. HERE ARE THE TOP 5 DECEMBERS IN EACH CATEGORY.
SNOWIEST WETTEST
25.7 2010 3.18 2010
23.3 2009 3.15 1894
22.3 1968 2.11 1966
21.0 1894 1.87 1909
18.9 1948 1.79 1964
NOTE: MORE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED IN ELY BEFORE THE END OF THE
MONTH. STAY TUNED TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ELKO FOR THE FINAL STATISTICS.
Some of the pivots have recently been turned on, beginning the spring irrigation. They have nozzles that come down close to the ground to reduce evaporation. The snow is melting up in the mountains, increasing the stream flow that feeds many of these pivots. It appears that snow pack is slightly above normal, so we are hoping it will be a good water year.
We're not having a super wet winter, but the snow we have is sticking around, making some of the abandoned buildings in Snake Valley seem even more desolate. Whenever I see old buildings like these, I always wonder about the people who lived in them and what they did and how they survived the winters. 
Here's one of the old telegraph poles south of Garrison. There was a telegraph line out to Burbank and I think also one to Milford.
Although the water level in Pruess Lake (Garrison Reservoir) is slowly being replenished during the winter, the water is still low enough that there is a line of burdock between the shore and the ice. These nasty plants have little burs that cling to shoelaces. 
Standing on top of the century old dam, one can see how low the water is. The dam was built with bricks that were fired in a kiln up on Snake Creek. The original dam was built by water prospectors who thought they could entice people to come out to Snake Valley and make big bucks farming. They promoted the steady water supply they were developing with the dam. They were better promoters than geologists, though. The rock you can see in the photo above on the left is limestone, and the porous nature of this rock meant that the water could never get near the top of the dam. The huge tracts for farming across the valley never emerged, although one can see the miles-long ditch from the air (and partly from the road) that extends north from Pruess Lake to Garrison and then across the stateline into Nevada. That round of water prospecting didn't turn out so well, and we're hoping current attempts meet the same fate.
Posts
All Comments
