JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Despite some recent rain, the drought is still on for most of Wyoming and certainly in Teton County. But the outlook has improved some from earlier predictions that Jackson Lake and Palisades Reservoir could be down to 1-3% capacity come fall.
During trying times as these, when sun-soaked conditions dominate, the already tricky job of managing water flow in the upper Snake River Plain becomes even more complex.
Brian Stevens, water operations group manager working out of the Snake River Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, shared with Jackson Hole Press some of the latest data.
“A month and a half ago we saw predictions that would have Jackson Lake end up at 25,000-acre feet, which is about 3% capacity. Palisades was looking like it would get down to 1-2% full,” Stevens said. “Things have improved some. Palisades might still get down to 2-5% by October, but Jackson Lake is looking closer to about 12% at this point. The outlook for the entire Snake River storage shed is 10% and improving slightly.”
Jackson Lake is crucial in the chain of water flow. As Stevens says, water doesn’t flow upstream. Near the headwaters of the Snake River, Jackson Lake is the first manmade holding tank. Once water leaves that body of water, it’s gone.
A lack of precipitation going back to March, combined with high irrigation diversion in June and July, has sucked many lakes and reservoirs to startlingly low levels.
As of August 12, Jackson Lake was at 47%, Palisades at 37%, and American Falls at 15% full.
“We are endeavoring to keep water upstream in the Jackson area as best we can. Waiting until fall to make additional cuts at Palisades,” Stevens said.
Stevens and the BLM do their best to accommodate myriad demands for water as the season progresses. Obviously, agriculture is a main economic driver for many along the Snake River so irrigation is one of the loudest voices.
“It’s a week by week measuring thing. We prefer to keep water higher in the system but it needs to be delivered at some point. There’s a lot of moving parts,” Stevens assured.
How does this season compare with year’s past? One of the worst, Stevens says.
“It’s going to be on par with 2013. That year we had significant concerns for water quality downstream at American Falls,” Stevens said. “What really is the issue is soil moisture is super low. Historic lows.”
The good news is, all the region needs to rebound is a good snow year. In 2014, winter complied and overall capacity zoomed that spring after a miserable drought.
“115% average of precipitation that winter got us back to 80%,” Stevens said.
But soil moisture was in a much healthier state back then. At this point, any precipitation over the winter will be sucked up and used by soils before it hits any streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Especially if we get a slow warmup next spring.
