The
recent burst of snow laden weather systems rolling across the Oregon Cascades has
turned what was a dismal snowpack into one creeping toward a more normal year.
As
of March 1 the snow water year that began October 1, 2017 for the Deschutes
Basin, as measured by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the US
Department of Agriculture, was 85% of normal, an increase from 83% reported by
the agency on February 1.
 |
| Wickiup fill level |
And
the important water eqivalent in the snowpack rose from 51% to 58% for the month
in the latest NRCS report.
 |
| March 1 - up from 51% Feb 1 |
In
another measurement, the region’s largest reservoir, Wickiup was nearing a
complete fill at 95% while Crescent Lake was at 90% and Crane Prairie at 82%.
Crescent Lake feeds the Little Dechutes River below Wickiup while Crane Prairie
flows into Wickiup before the latter empties into the mainstem Deschutes.
Snow sports enthusiasts were happy with the late arriving snows, but with the storms came
increased caution to respect heightened avalanche potential.
To
the north in Washingon avalanches claimed three lives in one week of February
and shut down a section of the North Cascades Highway on the eastern crest of
the mountains.
On
Thursday morning , March 1, Mt. Bachelor reported seven inches in a 24 hour
period and 30 inches in the previous 7 days.
Meissner
Nordic Trails at 5,350 feet, appoximately 1,700 feet higher but only 20 minutes
from downtown Bend, was enjoying a revived season after suffering with not
enough snow to groom only two weeks earlier.
