State committee keeping close eye on runoff

The Upper Snake River reservoir system was reported at 83% of capacity this week.

Bureau of Reclamation analyst Jeremy Dalling told a meeting of the Idaho Water Supply Committee Thursday that South Fork Snake River runoff is projected to be 99% of normal at Heise this year, based on existing snowpack and runoff projections.

Snowmelt has barely begun below 7,000 feet elevation because of cooler than normal weather in the upper Snake region, according to Dalling.

He said upper Snake reservoirs still have lots of storage space. But, he said snowpack in most basins are 110% above normal. The Willow, Blackfoot, Portneuf basin is 133% of normal.

You can view latest snowpack percentages here.

Depending on how the rest of April and May play out, Dalling said the region could expect normal or above-normal runoff this spring.

The National Weather Service is predicting a potential drying trend over the next 10 to 14 days.