Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-12-14
SNOW REPORT NOW
Depth of Snow Cover in Noun
tains Index to Water Supply.
TWELVE INCHES AT MASCOT
Snow on the Big Wood River Water
shed is Worth Watching to Deter
mine the Amount of Water
For Irrigation Season.

With this issue the Journal begins
the publication of the snow report
from the Big Wood and Soldier creek
watersheds of the mountains. This
table will be found under the one
showing the storage Of water in Magic
reservoir and is generally printed on
page eight.
In the semi arid west, the major
portion of the annual precipitation
falls in the form of snow. This snow
piles up In the mountains and forms
the main source Of water supply for
the creeks and rivers draining our
mountainous areas. Some Of these
streams flow the year round while
others are intermittant, flowing only
40 long as the snow IN the mountains
last. Irrigation agriculture depends
upon our mountain streams TOR lts
supply OF life-giving water. Ine
depth of the snow cover on our
mountains therefore determines tne
extent of our water supply, and also
in a general way the amount OF crops
that can he produced on our irrigated
/ lands J
| Records of precipitation upon our
high watersheds are not available.
The United States Weather Bureau,
in connection with the Forest Service,
make some snow measurements and
while they are very valuable they are
not extensive enough in any one basin
to form the basis for predicting the
total supply. Snow fall records are
difficult to obtain. Cages in which
the snow fall is caught have not
proved satisfactory for various rea-
sons, such as wind and air currents,
freezing of contents in chamber, in
accessibility Of cages, and excessive
cost Snow stakes for determining
the depth, unless used in large num-
bers, are not reliable. The water
equivalent Of snow cover must be de-
/
ing a given volume of snow and meas
uring the resulting depth of water
For example, three feet depth of snow
NAV be equivalent to only one foot
depth Of water. The water equiva-
lent is dependent upon the compact
ness and density of the snow layer
/ lar 1rdq
The Weather Bureau has developed
snow sampler which enables the
depth of snow and it's water equiva-
lent to be determined in one opera
ton. This devise consists OF a steel
tube about one and three-quarter
inches in diameter and four to ten
feet long, made in sections. The bot
tom joint has a cutting edge on 1t for
cutting through compact snow and
brated so that the depth of snow Is
read in inches. The equivalent depth
of water in inches Is determined by
weighing the tube containing the
snow core. The scales are graduated
to read the depth of water in inches
With this devise two men on snow
shoes can cover considerable ground
in one day. A snow survey using
such a sampler can be carried on very
rapidly and very accurate results OBJ
tanned.
The general method pursued in
making a snow survey Of any drain
age basin is to determine the depth
and water content OF the snow on
typical slopes and under characters
istic forest covers. Sufficient meas
urement should be made In different
parts Of the basin 10 determine the
local differences IN snow falls.
The value o. saow survey is evident.
n forms the basis of estimating ths
available water supply. 10 the FARM
er the value Of q snow survey made
just before planting time lies 10 the
fact thar n permits him 20 plan his
summer crops more iDteliigenty ~
the snow reserve h low be should
plant crops requiring lit'le water o.
early mafugfng egops, % eife failq~
soms ~ his land, t'of normal snow
supply he can planf normal efopf anq
iof an excessive s0oN layer hf eaH
pih Reasonable eecpgiiy plan eaa'r
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