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CRAZY WEATHER AFFECTS WATER SUPPLY FORECAST

Boise, ID, June 7, 2012 – The final water supply report from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service predicts water supplies could be tight in some basins in
southern Idaho this summer based on streamflow forecasts.

“Idaho’s reservoirs are worth their weight in gold this year,” said Ron Abramovich,
Water Supply Specialist with Idaho NRCS. “Carryover water storage from last
year will help southern Idaho farmers get through the irrigation season;
however, ranchers depending on natural streamflow to water rangeland pastures
may suffer after such a dry winter.”

According to Abramovich, there is good reservoir carryover storage for Upper Snake water
users, but streamflow forecasts are at 77% of average for the Snake River near
Heise. This could make for tight water supplies by summer’s end depending on
summer weather and irrigation demand.

“The Big and Little Lost River watersheds may also have marginally adequate water
supplies,” said Abramovich. “But I’m hopeful the high ground water levels and
near average streamflow forecasts for the Big Lost and Little Lost rivers, will
help sustain stream flows into the summer.”

“May precipitation can be described as average, fair, and poor depending on what
part of the state you are in,” said Abramovich. “The worst rainfall
measurements were in southern Idaho’s desert basins, like the Owyhee, Bruneau,
and Salmon Falls, which received 50% of average. Streamflow forecasts are also
poor for these areas ranging from 15 – 50% of average. A cool summer with
moderate temperatures would stretch this year’s water supply in southern
Idaho.”

North Idaho is better off, May precipitation ranged from 85-100% of average and June
1 snowpacks are 109 to 130% of average.

For more information about snowpack, precipitation, runoff and water supplies for
specific basins, please view the complete June 2012 Water Supply Outlook Report
online at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow
and click on the ‘Water Supply’ link.