Monthly Archive for April, 2009

Water Levels Excellent In Local Reservoirs

jackson-lake1No, this photo of Jackson Lake wasn’t taken recently.  It was in the summer.  We still have snow up to the hoo hoo.  However, that’s the good news.  Water levels in most of the local reservoirs are looking good for this year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.  Island Park is 90% full.  Henry’s Lake is 97% full.  Palisades is 76% full.  Jackson Lake is 77% full.  Ririe (the worst of the bunch in S.E. Idaho is 56%.

Those numbers would be impressive in May.  But when you figure that we still have six feet of snow to melt, the numbers are phenomenal.  It’s funny to me the farmers are still asking everyone to “pray for more moisture” as though we’re in the throws of a big drought.  I think they just get used to saying that, and then continue without ever really checking the water levels.  Maybe you can give them a call and let them know we’re okay for another year.

Big Storm Hits Island Park

img_3817Just when I thought the ground might be bare in early April, we get a big dumper.  Late season storms aren’t rare, by any means, but when they drop a foot of wet, heavy snow, it is somewhat of a surprise.  Since Thursday of last week we have received over ten inches of new snow (according to the snotel site at the Pond’s Lodge Ranger Station.)

The funny thing about this is that even though it dumped and blew and the roads were as bad as they’ve been all year, the next day the roads were bare and dry.  It just goes to show you if you can wait a day or so to travel, things are bound to get better.