Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-17
ALL RECORDS FOR
SNOWFALL IN THE
STATE BROKEN
Bulletin Issued by Weather
Bureau Tells of Condi-
tions-Reports From the
Forest Supervisors.

The snowfall in Idaho this year all
over the state is the heaviest since /.
statewide records have been kept and !
indications point to the best season for
irrigation and placer mining the state
has ever known. The snowfall bulletin |
issued by the local bureau, with brief
remarks by forest rangers on the diff
ferent drainage areas is as follows;
Many reports are missing, owing to
snow blockades in different parts of
the state, but it is known that, taking
the state as a whole, the snowfall for
the winter thus far has been the heav
lest since statewide records have been
kept. 1t has been particularly heavy
in the southwestern part of the state.
The only section reporting deficiency
is a narrow belt along the southern
border from the Bruneau watershed
eastward. The snow began to accumu-
late early and there has been little loss
in the higher mountains. The accumu-
lated depths at the close of the month
were generally from one and one-half
to four times as great as the depths
reported on the same date a yeaP ago
The temperature of the month was
generally below normal but there were
a few mild periods, which served to
settle and pack the snow, without caus
ing material run-off except from the
lower levels. There was more than the
usual amount of drifting, and in most
cases the snow is solid and should
melt slowly. The soil under the snow
is not frozen, and is believed to be
relatively dry. The present prospect
is for an unusually heavy run-off in
the Boise, Wood, Payette, Weiser and
Salmon rivers, a moderately light run
off in the streams entering the middle
reaches of the Snake river from the
south, and somewhat more' than tine
average flow in the other streams of
the state"
The following remarks by forest SUI
pervisors are given:
Bear River Drainage.
Montpelier-An unusually heavy
snowfall occurred throughout the Carl
bou forest during January, and the
amount of snow at the close of the
month is little above normal
Upper Snake River Drainage.
Oakley-The snowfall up to the
present time is considerably below
that Of a normal year. though some
what above the snowfall OF 1915.
There are many wells that have always
been relied upon. which have now gone
dry.
st. Anthony-The prospect for an
abundance of water next summer is
better than ever before. The snow is
drifted and packed solid.
Lost River Region.
Mackay-There is more snow in the
Lost River valleys than there has been
at this time of the winter for the last
several years. The snow in the val
leys will probably average two feet in
depth, while in the mountains it is
much deeper.
Wood River Drainage
Hailey-The present snowfall has
been exceeded only twice in the last
35 years. The moisture content is
above that of last winter, but is slight
ly below average. Latest measure
ments are as follows: Vienna mines.
about 10 feet; Galena summit, 1o9
Inches.
Payette River Drainage.
Emmett-During the early part Of
the month the snow was loose and dry.
and drifted great deal. warm wind
and rain on the 21st and 22d packed
the snow hard. The moisture content
Is high.
Weiser River Drainage.
Weiser-The snow in the Weiser
forest is deeper than at any previous
time since records have been kept.
Upper Columbia River Drainage.
Occur dAlene with jan
uary, 1915. the snow is very much
deeper. III sheltered places near the
western edge Of the forest the snow
is up to IS or 20 inches deep. while In
the interior Of the forest the depth
varies from four feet in the valleys to
seven feet on the higher hills.
Clearwater River Drainage.
Grangeville-This has been the cold -
est continuous snowy period within my
knowledge. The snow is packed ex
cept the last fall. The depth ranges
from three feet to II feet