Reservoir levels carry lots of storage into the winter

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - The reservoirs across east Idaho and western Wyoming are at good levels to carry over water into the spring of next year. Hydrologists are optimistic there should be enough water for everyone heading into next year.

The reservoir levels have been much improved from what they were this time last year. For example, in August of last year, Palisades and Jackson Lake were around 30% of full capacity continuing to lose water into November of 2022. This year, heading into winter, those reservoirs are around 60% of their capacity. In fact, the Upper Snake Reservoir system has 1.3 million acre feet more of water currently than what we had last year. This will look to bring so much water storage into next year's irrigation.

All of this is due to the impressive amount of snow and rain over this past year. We have received much more snow and rain since November of last year which has led to an increase in runoff and an increase in water levels.

There is a little worry about a drier winter incoming. The current global weather pattern is in an El Nino which tends to give Idaho less moisture and snow than it usually receives. With this storage though in the systems, hydrologists believe we should be good still for next year's irrigation system.