This snow accumulation season started with the record-breaking storms of late September and October. November was
a relatively dry month, but since then, precipitation has been near average. April continued the trend with average
precipitation.
The first part of the April brought well below-average temperatures, while the second half of the month
brought sunshine and near-record high temperatures. At Badger Pass SNOTEL (6900 ft elevation), located above Swift
Reservoir, temperatures reached nearly 70 degrees on April 29th.
The basin wide snowpack peaked above normal on
April 19th, which is about a week later than normal, and it is currently melting fast. Streams and rivers are on the rise,
including the North Fork of the Sun and Dearborn Rivers, which are flowing at near-record high stages for May 1st.
Streamflow forecasts for the May 1st – July 31st period indicate near to slightly above average volumes are possible this
spring and summer.
If you would like to read the whole state hydrological report for May 1st please click on this link.
May 15 Snowpack Map
Friday, May 15, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
April 2020 ROD's
Zone 1 ROD
Zone 2 ROD
Zone 3 ROD
Zone 4 ROD
Zone 5 ROD
MTFWP ROD
Daily Average flows for Springhill and Lower Spring Creek gauges. These values are used to calculate FWP's 1985 instream flow reservations record of distribution on the Teton River and Spring Creek. As soon as I get the full monthly values for Spring Creek, I will update this post.
Daily Average Flows
Zone 2 ROD
Zone 3 ROD
Zone 4 ROD
Zone 5 ROD
MTFWP ROD
Daily Average flows for Springhill and Lower Spring Creek gauges. These values are used to calculate FWP's 1985 instream flow reservations record of distribution on the Teton River and Spring Creek. As soon as I get the full monthly values for Spring Creek, I will update this post.
Daily Average Flows
Sunday, April 19, 2020
April 2020 Hydrological Report & 4/15 Snowpack Map
March precipitation was below average in the Sun-Teton-Marias River basin. Storms on March 11th and the 31st brought most of the month’s precipitation. Even after having a record-setting start to the water year, the basin is slightly behind average for water year-to-date precipitation.
With that said, all the basin’s SNOTEL sites currently have above-normal snow water content, which is a result of the significant amount of snow they received before October 1st. Typically, the basin’s snowpack peaks in mid-April, and all non-burned sites have already reached their typical peak
values.
Spring is young, and there is still an opportunity for significant snow in the coming weeks. However, if that doesn’t pan out, the snowmelt driven component this season should not be lacking. Current streamflow forecasts indicate near to slightly above average streamflows are possible for the April 1st through July 31st period.
April 15 Snowpack Map
If you would like to view the entire state hydrological report for April, click on this link.
With that said, all the basin’s SNOTEL sites currently have above-normal snow water content, which is a result of the significant amount of snow they received before October 1st. Typically, the basin’s snowpack peaks in mid-April, and all non-burned sites have already reached their typical peak
values.
Spring is young, and there is still an opportunity for significant snow in the coming weeks. However, if that doesn’t pan out, the snowmelt driven component this season should not be lacking. Current streamflow forecasts indicate near to slightly above average streamflows are possible for the April 1st through July 31st period.
April 15 Snowpack Map
If you would like to view the entire state hydrological report for April, click on this link.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
March 1 Hyrdrologic Outlook for Teton River Basin & 3/25 Snowpack Map
Precipitation was above average at mountain locations in the Sun-Teton-Marias River basin during February. No
significant snowstorms stand out in February, but mountain snowfall was consistent throughout the month. New snow
was recorded 22 of 29 days during February at Mount Lockhart SNOTEL.
The basin-wide snowpack is currently well above normal, and it is near its typical annual peak, which doesn’t usually occur until mid-April. With that said, water year precipitation is currently near to below average in the Sun-Teton-Marias River basin.
This difference can be attributed to the significant amount of snow that fell before October 1st and the relatively dry November and December. Near to above normal snowpack has resulted in forecasts within the basin which are near to slightly above average for the Apr 1st – July 31st period.
March 25 NRCS Snowpack Map
The basin-wide snowpack is currently well above normal, and it is near its typical annual peak, which doesn’t usually occur until mid-April. With that said, water year precipitation is currently near to below average in the Sun-Teton-Marias River basin.
This difference can be attributed to the significant amount of snow that fell before October 1st and the relatively dry November and December. Near to above normal snowpack has resulted in forecasts within the basin which are near to slightly above average for the Apr 1st – July 31st period.
March 25 NRCS Snowpack Map
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Daily Average Streamflow Data Downloads
To calculate the FWP instream reservations, we are using daily average streamflows at the Springhill Gauge. The daily averages smooth out the 24hr high and low flows to a average flow, which can then be doubled to calculate acre-feet for purposes of billing like all other users in the drainage.
DNRC is calculating and updating the daily average streamflow data as early as possible after the 1st of each month to provide Scot Sessions the data to create his tabulation of FWP water.
I have added the link to the top of the website where all the stream gauge links are located. To download the stream flows, you need microsoft excel. I am not sure how old a version can successfully download the data.
If you can't download and would really like to see it, email me and I will send you a PDF copy of it that most anyone can open.
DNRC is calculating and updating the daily average streamflow data as early as possible after the 1st of each month to provide Scot Sessions the data to create his tabulation of FWP water.
I have added the link to the top of the website where all the stream gauge links are located. To download the stream flows, you need microsoft excel. I am not sure how old a version can successfully download the data.
If you can't download and would really like to see it, email me and I will send you a PDF copy of it that most anyone can open.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Monday, December 16, 2019
November and December 2019 Zone 2 ROD - Note about Fish & Game
Nov 2019 ROD
Stay tuned for December.
In late October 2019, I contacted MTFWP about becoming a contributing water user to the water commissioner bills paid by the Teton River Distribution Project water users. In consultation with Fish and Game's point person for water distribution across the state, acre foot totals were agreed to for the 2019 calendar year. As a result, Fish and Game will be contributing to this January 2020 annual billing effort.
All Fish and Game rights satisfied in 2019 have junior priority dates of approximately 1985. They are statutory water reservations established by Fish and Game prior to the statutory closure of the Teton River basin. There are Fish and Game reservations in the Upper Teton River, Deep Creek, and Spring Creek.
We will continue working with Fish and Game to more precisely determine the satisfaction of these junior water reservations in real time in 2020. Scott Sessions will be the water commissioner on the ground responsible for tracking all of these Fish and Game reservations. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an text/email.
Stay tuned for December.
In late October 2019, I contacted MTFWP about becoming a contributing water user to the water commissioner bills paid by the Teton River Distribution Project water users. In consultation with Fish and Game's point person for water distribution across the state, acre foot totals were agreed to for the 2019 calendar year. As a result, Fish and Game will be contributing to this January 2020 annual billing effort.
All Fish and Game rights satisfied in 2019 have junior priority dates of approximately 1985. They are statutory water reservations established by Fish and Game prior to the statutory closure of the Teton River basin. There are Fish and Game reservations in the Upper Teton River, Deep Creek, and Spring Creek.
We will continue working with Fish and Game to more precisely determine the satisfaction of these junior water reservations in real time in 2020. Scott Sessions will be the water commissioner on the ground responsible for tracking all of these Fish and Game reservations. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an text/email.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Monday, October 21, 2019
Remaining 2019 Zone Meetings - 11/14 update
The schedule for the remaining 2019 zone meetings
Zone 6 - Farmington Bench - Thursday, November 14, 630p - Back room of John Henry's restaurant
Zone 1 - Lower Teton River
Monday, November 18, 630p - WakeCup Cafe/Brewery Fort Benton - Aaron Fiaschetti will be in attendance and present his annual flow data and analysis.
Zone 6 - Farmington Bench - Thursday, November 14, 630p - Back room of John Henry's restaurant
Zone 1 - Lower Teton River
Monday, November 18, 630p - WakeCup Cafe/Brewery Fort Benton - Aaron Fiaschetti will be in attendance and present his annual flow data and analysis.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Notice of Errata in the May, June, July Tabulations
Notice of Errata and corrected Deep Creek Tabulations
The errors in the tabulations consisted of: 1) over billing Stephens Ranch for diverted stockwater from Quigley Coulee above and beyond the flow of the source, the recorded amount was reduced to the measured flow of the source, and 2) water used by Freeman Ranch was mistakenly apportioned to William Miller. Freeman Ranch is owned by the Millers, but they seek to keep that water separate for billing purposes. The corrections are highlighted in grey. The amended ROD's have been added to the appropriate monthly posts below.
The errors in the tabulations consisted of: 1) over billing Stephens Ranch for diverted stockwater from Quigley Coulee above and beyond the flow of the source, the recorded amount was reduced to the measured flow of the source, and 2) water used by Freeman Ranch was mistakenly apportioned to William Miller. Freeman Ranch is owned by the Millers, but they seek to keep that water separate for billing purposes. The corrections are highlighted in grey. The amended ROD's have been added to the appropriate monthly posts below.
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