Oregon Public Broadcasting

A federal official says the latest mountain snow levels can bring a little relief to Oregon’s fish, farmers, and energy producers – but not a lot.

Packed snow is enormously important because as it melts, it provides water in the spring and summer for some industries and wildlife.

John Lea with the Natural Resource Conservation Service says recent snowfall has helped.  But he says average snowpack statewide rose only from 59 percent of average, to 66 percent.

Lea says Mt. Hood is getting closer to average, thanks to the latest snowstorms. 

“Again, it’s some good gains up there, but looking around the Mount Hood area, it’s only 62 percent of average, and it’s 53 percent of average in the Willamette River basin – the lowest percentages statewide.” Lea said.

Lea says the early April measurements are usually a very good indicator of where the water levels will be for the spring and summer. But he says rainfall in the late spring can still help improve river and lake levels.