Benefits of Snow Survey to conservation in the U.S. West

Breakout session Monday, February 10 at 3:45 p.m.

Water conservation efforts in the U.S. West have benefitted from water supply forecasts based on snowpack conditions for over 100 years. This breakout session focused on the use of NRCS Snow Survey data and reports to inform & support conservation efforts both historically and for the foreseeable future. Speakers included NRCS Water Supply Specialists employed by the Snow Program as well as water managers from local conservation districts to underscore the importance of this partnership.

Speaker: Jordan Clayton, NRCS Snow Survey

1. Brief overview of the NRCS Snow Survey Program and SNOTEL data National Association of Conservation Districts 2025 Annual Meeting Jordan Clayton Data Collection Officer, NRCS-Utah Snow Survey contact: [email protected], 385-290-9718

2. Background Snow Survey mission : measure the snowpack, precipitation, and other parameters quality control the data create water supply forecasts

3. >95% of the water used in Utah comes from snow critical need for reliable, precise predictions of runoff from snowmelt

4. NRCS-Utah Snow Survey: over 100 years of data Historical snowpack data measured since 1920s at Utah snow courses 1906: James Church relates snowpack to Lake Tahoe inflow forecasts 1970s: transition to SNOTEL for automated snowpack measurements

5. SNOTEL system fully automated system providing data since 1970s delivers hourly snowpack & hydroclimatic data snow water equivalent, precipitation, snow depth, soil moisture, soil temperature, air temperature

6. Snow pillow – for snow water equivalent (SWE) Features of SNOTEL sites

7. Snow depth sensor

8. Air temperature sensor

9. Precipitation gage

10. Soil moisture/temperature sensors

11. Communications sites are “off the grid” radio sends message via cellular or satellite networks data sent every hour

12. Users of SNOTEL data Many applications, but main objective is water supply forecasting for agriculture

13. Water supply forecasting Correlate from snowpack to streamflow … Forecast points April – July flow volume ~75% accurate

14. Map of SWE near Salt Lake City, including time-series graph (from March, 2021) Examples of Snow Survey products & reports

15. Reservoir data

16. Monthly reports: “Water Supply Outlook Report” snowpack data & runoff forecasts “Climate and Water Report” drought, reservoir & soil moisture

17. Panel Discussion Panelists : Mike Larson , President, Utah Association of Conservation Districts (UACD) Kristy Davis , Executive Director/CFO, UACD Daniel Gunnell , Resource Coordinator, Zone 3, UDAF Addison Hicken , Chairman, Wasatch Conservation District, Utah Topics for Panelists : How do Snow Survey data and reports help inform conservation efforts in Utah? Examples? What details are most critical? How has CD use of Snow Survey data evolved over time? Changes in the foreseeable future? Discussion with audience : For areas where water supply is less influenced by snow, thoughts on how quantified resource data might similarly benefit CD operations?