Gray days have silver lining

COEUR d’ALENE — A cool, wet spring might not have done much good for outdoor recreation, but it did wonders for North Idaho’s water supply outlook.

Peter Youngblood, hydrologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey Office, said Monday that all drought designations for the Panhandle have have been removed.

Along with a still-strong snowpack and an above-average summer streamflow forecast, water worries in North Idaho have evaporated.

“It’s all very good news,” Youngblood said.

According to the NRCS Idaho water supply outlook released Monday, “Continuation of wet and cold spring conditions have improved water supply across the state by increasing natural streamflow, delaying and/or diminishing irrigation deliveries and postponing mountain snowpack melting,” the outlook said.

Median peak snowpack in the Panhandle was about 90%, which is excellent for this time of the year.

The snow water equivalent for the Panhandle was above 100%.

The streamflow forecast for the Panhandle basins is above normal through the end of September. It ranged from 115 to 150% of normal.

"It’s looking really good right now," Youngblood said.

While areas of southern Idaho remain in drought, conditions are improving there, too.

May precipitation was near to well above normal across most of Idaho. Boise Basin was the wettest at 217% of normal precipitation. The Panhandle was 157% of normal.

Many basins have reached near normal to slightly above normal total water year precipitation levels, the report said.

“Water supply conditions continue to improve since the April 1 assessment. The wet spring conditions have increased natural flow in the rivers,” the report said. “Increased runoff into reservoirs, have improved soil moisture conditions and in some places, have delayed or decreased irrigation deliveries."

Lake Coeur d'Alene was about normal at 2,128 feet as of Monday afternoon. Flood stage is 2,133.

Reservoir levels are below normal across much of Idaho.

Total reservoir storage in the Upper Snake system above American Falls Dam is 58% full and well below normal at 76% of average storage on June 1.

Magic Reservoir storage is at 31% of normal. The Boise Reservoir system was currently 98% of normal and continues to fill.

Lake Coeur d'Alene and Lake Pend Oreille were about 90% of normal.

Youngblood said if there is a concern, it is that a cool, rainy spring results in plants growing rapidly in the wild.

If they are dried out by a long, hot summer, it could cause “higher than normal wildlife season.”

“Right now, conditions do not suggest that is going to be the case,” he said.