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Black Hills snow amounts best in more than a decade
Author: Tim Velder, Lawrence County Journal
Published: 2009-01-06 20:19:52
Updated: 2009-02-16 15:55:55
Officials at the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Newcastle, Wyo., have measured the snow depths at 7 of the 10 Black Hills snow courses. Their findings show that levels are at, or well above, the long-term average. “The last time we started a snow season off this well was probably 1996,” said NRCS District conservationist Keith Culver.
Depths range from one foot deep at Ditch Creek to more than two feet deep at Mallo.
Bearlodge Divide, Reuter Canyon and O’Neill Pass snow courses will be read next month. Readings are taken at the end of January, February and March.
Local stream, creek and reservoir managers use the snowpack information to plan for the amount of spring runoff available when the snow melts.
The seven snow readings released Monday are as follows:
- Blind Park -- 22.3 inches of snow, 4.5 inches of water versus an average of 3.5 inches, 29 percent above average.
- Cole Canyon -- 14.0 inches of snow, 3.3 inches of water versus an average of 3.3 inches, equal to 30-year average.
- Ditch Creek -- 12.0 inches of snow, 2.4 inches of water, no 30-year average is established here.
- Little Bear Run -- 16.5 inches of snow, 3.6 inches of water versus an average of 1.7 inches, 112 percent above average.
- Mallo -- 26.5 inches of snow, 6.0 inches of water versus an average of 2.9 inches, 107 percent above average.
- Mount Tom -- 16.6 inches of snow, 3.6 inches of water versus and average of 1.9 inches, double the average.
- North Rapid Creek -- 18.0 inches of snow, 4.9 inches of water versus an average of 3.3 inches, 48 percent above average
Meanwhile, area reservoirs are also in good shape.
Bureau of Reclamation engineer Curt Anderson said Monday that most area reservoirs are sitting in good shape heading into the wet spring months. Anderson said that if spring months of March and April only bring average moisture, Pactola, Deerfield and Belle Fourche reservoirs should fill up easily.
Snow at Mount Tom and Mallo goes into both Cheyenne and Belle Fourche drainages.
The snow pack at Cole Canyon, Upper Spearfish, Bearlodge Divide and Reuter Canyon becomes runoff into the Belle Fourche River and the Belle Fourche Reservoir. Also known as Orman Dam, the reservoir is about 75 percent full, with about 5.75 feet from full. The reservoir is partially drained each summer to provide irrigation water to more than 50,000 acres of farmland in Butte County.
Snow at Blind Park goes into Castle Creek and from there into Deerfield Reservoir and Rapid Creek. Deerfield Reservoir is 93 percent full, with only three feet to go before it is considered full.
Snow melt at North Rapid Creek flows into Pactola Reservoir. Pactola is 92 percent full, with about 5.6 feet to reach full capacity.
Snow melt from Ditch Creek and Little Bear Run flows to Angostura Reservoir, which is only 59 percent full. It has 12.8 feet to go before reaching the top.
Shadehill Reservoir in northwestern South Dakota is 67 percent full with 9 feet to go before hitting full stage.