Snake River water storage near normal

The Snake River basin is entering the winter at near normal levels after two above-average water years.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation estimated the system’s storage reservoirs at Jackson Lake, Palisades, Grassy Lake, Island Park, Ririe, American Falls and Lake Walcott were at 57 percent of capacity this week. As of November, the upper Snake system is slightly above average while the Boise and Payette systems are near average.

Idaho Power Company said the winter of 2016-2017 left reservoirs with storage water that carried over into the summer. But, a warm, dry summer increased irrigation demand and a dry fall dropped reservoir levels to more typical levels.