Weather Service Report


073 
AXUS75 KREV 172307
DGTREV

DGTREV
NVZ001>041-CAZ070>073-CAZ519>527-250000-

DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
405 PM PDT FRI MAY 17 2013

...DROUGHT STATEMENT FOR NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA...

...MODERATE TO EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN MOST OF NEVADA AND 
EASTERN CALIFORNIA...

...ALL NEVADA COUNTIES...AND ALL CALIFORNIA COUNTIES BORDERING 
NEVADA HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED NATURAL DROUGHT DISASTER AREAS BY THE 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE...

1/ NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA DROUGHT DISASTER DESIGNATIONS...
AS OF MAY 15 2013...ALL COUNTIES IN NEVADA AND ALL CALIFORNIA 
COUNTIES ALONG THE NEVADA BORDER HAD BEEN DESIGNATED NATURAL DROUGHT 
DISASTER AREAS...EITHER AS PRIMARY COUNTIES OR CONTIGUOUS 
COUNTIES...BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.  

PRIMARY DROUGHT DISASTER COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA ALONG THE NEVADA 
BORDER INCLUDE MODOC...LASSEN...MONO...INYO AND SAN BERNARDINO.

ALL NEVADA COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED PRIMARY DROUGHT DISASTER 
COUNTIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EUREKA COUNTY. 

SEE WWW.USDA.GOV/DROUGHT /IN LOWER CASE/ FOR MORE INFORMATION ON 
DROUGHT DISASTER DECLARATIONS AND ASSISTANCE.

2/ CURRENT DROUGHT INTENSITY IN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA...
THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR /DROUGHTMONITOR.UNL.EDU/ IS UPDATED WEEKLY 
BY THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER. IT IS A SYNTHESIS OF 
MULTIPLE DROUGHT INDICES AND IMPACTS THAT REPRESENTS A CONSENSUS OF 
SCIENTISTS IN MANY FEDERAL...STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES...AS WELL AS 
THOSE IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY. 

THE DROUGHT MONITOR IS USED NATIONWIDE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE TO DETERMINE DROUGHT SEVERITY...TO DECLARE DROUGHT 
DISASTER AND IS THE MECHANISM USED TO PROVIDE AID TO THE 
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.  IT IS ALSO THE PRIMARY TOOL USED BY NEVADA 
DEPARTMENTS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND WATER RESOURCES TO RESPOND 
TO AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR DROUGHT AND MITIGATE DROUGHT IMPACTS 
THROUGH ITS DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN. 
 
AS OF MAY 14 2013...THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR CLASSIFIED PORTIONS OF 
WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST NEVADA AS IN EXTREME DROUGHT /LEVEL 3 OF 
4 LEVELS OF DROUGHT/. 

IN NEVADA...THE AREAS OF EXTREME DROUGHT INCLUDED SOUTHWEST 
HUMBOLDT... EAST CENTRAL WASHOE...WESTERN AND SOUTHERN 
PERSHING...ALL OF CHURCHILL...EASTERN LYON...NORTHERN MINERAL...AND 
SOUTHEAST ELKO COUNTIES. ALL OF THE REST OF NEVADA WAS IN MODERATE 
TO SEVERE DROUGHT /LEVELS 1 AND 2/...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MOST OF 
NORTHEAST CLARK AND NORTHERN ELKO COUNTIES...WHICH WERE CLASSIFIED 
AS ABNORMALLY DRY.  

FOR CALIFORNIA COUNTIES BORDERING NEVADA...MODOC SOUTH TO ALPINE 
COUNTY WERE IN MODERATE DROUGHT /LEVEL 1/...WHILE MONO SOUTH TO SAN 
BERNARDINO COUNTY WERE CLASSIFIED AS IN SEVERE DROUGHT. CURRENTLY... 
NO EXTREME DROUGHT /LEVEL 3/ IS DESIGNATED IN CALIFORNIA. 

3/ SYNOPSIS...
PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN BELOW NORMAL /LESS THAN 80 PERCENT OF NORMAL/ 
TO MUCH BELOW NORMAL /LESS THAN 50 PERCENT/ SINCE LAST OCTOBER 
THROUGHOUT ALMOST ALL OF NEVADA AND MOST OF EASTERN CALIFORNIA. THE 
EXCEPTIONS...AREAS WHICH HAD NEAR TO ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION 
SINCE LAST FALL...INCLUDED EASTERN MODOC...EASTERN LASSEN...NORTHERN 
PLUMAS...SOUTHEAST ALPINE...AND NORTHERN MONO COUNTIES IN 
CALIFORNIA...AND NORTHERN WASHOE...NORTHERN WHITE PINE...SOUTHEAST 
ELKO AND A SMALL PORTION OF NORTHERN CLARK COUNTIES IN NEVADA.  

AS A CONSEQUENCE...WATER SUPPLIES THIS SPRING AND SUMMER...IN AREAS 
OF NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA WHICH DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE 
RESERVOIR STORAGE OR CHARGED GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS WILL FACE VARYING 
DEGREES OF SHORTAGES. HOWEVER...WATER SUPPLIES WILL BE ADEQUATE IN 
ALL URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS OF NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA... 
ALTHOUGH NORMAL WATERING RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN FORCE.

THE FARMING AND RANCHING COMMUNITY OF THE REGION WILL FEEL THE BRUNT 
OF THESE SHORTAGES. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THE CURRENT 
DROUGHT IN THE REGION IS THE EXTREMELY HIGH FIRE DANGER WHICH WILL 
DEVELOP AS THE WEATHER WARMS...AS WELL AS IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE AND 
VEGETATION.

4/ DROUGHT IMPACTS...
THE FOLLOWING IMPACTS ARE OCCURRING OR ARE LIKELY IN AREAS OF NEVADA 
AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA THIS SPRING AND SUMMER DUE TO CURRENT DROUGHT 
CONDITIONS...

A/ RANCHING...
MANY RANCHERS IN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA WILL STRUGGLE TO 
PROVIDE CATTLE WITH WATER...FEED AND OTHER NUTRIENTS. SOME MAY NEED 
TO HAUL WATER AND FEED TO LIVESTOCK FOR BETTER DISTRIBUTION.  THERE 
MAY BE SIGNIFICANT WATER SHORTAGES IN SOME AREAS AS SURFACE WATER 
SOURCES DISAPPEAR.  RANCHERS MAY NEED TO MANAGE HERD SIZE DUE TO 
THESE DROUGHT CONDITIONS. 

THE BATTLE MOUNTAIN AND CARSON CITY DISTRICTS OF THE BUREAU OF LAND 
MANAGEMENT ARE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS OF THE HEALTH OF 
RANGELANDS IN MOST OF NORTHERN NEVADA TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM 
NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK THAT THE RANGE CAN HANDLE. 

A BILL TO ALLOW NEVADA LIVESTOCK OWNERS IN DROUGHT STRICKEN AREAS 
EMERGENCY ACCESS TO WATER IS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY THE 
NEVADA LEGISLATURE. IT CREATES AN EMERGENCY PERMITTING PROCESS WHICH 
WOULD BE AVAILABLE WHEN STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIALS DECLARE A DROUGHT 
EMERGENCY.  

DUE TO THE RECENT DROUGHT DISASTER DESIGNATION THROUGHOUT ALL 
COUNTIES IN THE REGION...RANCHERS MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN VARIOUS 
FINANCIAL AND TAX RELIEF THROUGH USDA.  SEE THE USDA FARM SERVICES 
AGENCY WEBSITE FOR DETAILS /WWW.FSA.USDA.GOV/

B/ AGRICULTURE...
MOST FARMERS THROUGHOUT NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA WILL NOT 
RECEIVE A FULL ALLOCATION OF WATER THIS YEAR. FARMERS IN AREAS 
WITHOUT ADEQUATE UPSTREAM RESERVOIR STORAGE WILL HAVE SEVERE 
RESTRICTIONS IN WATER ALLOCATIONS. THIS CUT IN ALLOCATIONS MAY LEAD 
TO DRASTIC REDUCTIONS IN CROP YIELDS AND RESULTING LOSS OF INCOME. 
SOME FARMERS MAY CHOOSE NOT TO PLANT CROPS FOR THIS OR NEXT SEASON.

HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN...
THE NEVADA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES IN ELKO NEVADA REPORTS THAT 
MOST IRRIGATORS ALONG THE HUMBOLDT RIVER ABOVE RYE PATCH RESERVOIR 
WERE NOT SERVED ANY WATER DURING THE 2012 IRRIGATION SEASON...AND 
2013 IS LOOKING EVEN DRIER. ABOVE RYE PATCH...IT APPEARS THAT THIS 
YEAR THE HIGHEST WATER RIGHT PRIORITY THAT WILL BE SERVED IS 1872. 
AS MOST WATER RIGHTS ON THE HUMBOLDT ARE MUCH LATER THAN 1872...MOST 
FARMERS ON THE HUMBOLDT ABOVE RYE PATCH WILL NOT GET ANY WATER THIS 
YEAR.  

IRRIGATORS ON THE HUMBOLDT RIVER BELOW RYE PATCH DAM IN PERSHING 
COUNTY WILL RECEIVE ONLY ABOUT 8 PERCENT OF THEIR NORMAL ALLOTMENT 
THIS SEASON.  

WALKER RIVER BASIN...
DUE TO BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND SNOWPACK ON THE WALKER 
BASIN...EAST WALKER RIVER IRRIGATORS WILL RECEIVE 23 PERCENT OF 
THEIR NORMAL ALLOTMENT. ON THE WEST WALKER THEY WILL RECEIVE 9 
PERCENT OR NORMAL...AND ON THE MAINSTEM WALKER THEY WILL RECEIVE 
ABOUT 12 PERCENT.

CARSON RIVER BASIN...
THE UPPER CARSON RIVER BASIN...ABOVE LAHONTAN DAM...WILL HAVE VERY 
LOW FLOWS THIS SEASON.  MOST IRRIGATORS WILL ONLY HAVE WATER 
AVAILABLE DURING SPRING RUNOFF...THROUGH ABOUT MID JUNE. BELOW 
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR... IRRIGATORS WILL RECEIVE 75 PERCENT OF THEIR 
NORMAL ALLOTMENT.

TRUCKEE RIVER BASIN...
NO RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR IRRIGATORS OR ANY OTHER USES ON THE 
MAINSTEM TRUCKEE RIVER THIS YEAR...OTHER THAN NORMAL URBAN WATERING 
RESTRICTIONS.  

HOWEVER...IRRIGATORS WHICH RELY ON FLOWS ON TRUCKEE RIVER 
TRIBUTARIES WITHOUT RESERVOIR STORAGE...SUCH AS ON THE STEAMBOAT 
CREEK-WASHOE LAKE BASIN...WILL ONLY HAVE WATER AVAILABLE FOR A SHORT 
PERIOD DURING SPRING RUNOFF...THROUGH EARLY TO MID JUNE.
 
DUE TO THE DROUGHT DISASTER DESIGNATION THROUGHOUT ALL COUNTIES IN 
THE REGION...FARMERS MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN VARIOUS FINANCIAL AND TAX 
RELIEF THROUGH USDA.  SEE THE USDA FARM SERVICES AGENCY WEBSITE FOR 
DETAILS /WWW.FSA.USDA.GOV/

C/ FIRE DANGER...
AS OF MAY 16TH 2013...FIRE DANGER WAS RATED HIGH TO EXTREME IN THE 
SOUTHERN HALF OF NEVADA AND IN SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF MONO 
COUNTY. THE NORTHERN HALF OF NEVADA AND NORTHERN AND CENTRAL 
CALIFORNIA HAD LOW TO MODERATE FIRE DANGER. 
 
AS TEMPERATURES WARM AND FUELS DRY THIS SPRING AND SUMMER...FIRE 
DANGER WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. FIRE DANGER WILL BE 
EXPECIALLY HIGH IN TIMBERED AREAS IN THE SIERRA NEVADA AND SOUTHERN 
CASCADES IN CALIFORNIA AND WEST CENTRAL NEVADA...AND ALSO IN 
NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY NEVADA...WHERE FUELS HAVE BEEN DRIER THAN 
NORMAL FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS FOR 
OUTBREAKS OF DRY LIGHTNING CAUSED BY SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS WHICH 
COULD TRIGGER FIRES. 

SEE U.S. FOREST SERVICE WILDLAND FIRE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM WEBSITE FOR 
DETAILS... HTTP://WFAS.NET/IMAGES/FIREDANGER/FD_CLASS.PNG/.  

D/ FISHERIES...
LOW FLOWS AND HIGH WATER TEMPERATURES IN AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS 
WILL LIKELY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO FISH AND OTHER AQUATIC 
SPECIES.  

E/ VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE... 
IN FORESTED AREAS...DROUGHT MAY CAUSE TREES TO BECOME SUSCEPTIBLE TO 
INSECT INFESTATIONS WHICH COULD INCREASE MORTALITY AND FIRE DANGER.  
LESS VEGETATION AND WATER MAY STRESS WILDLIFE CAUSING DEHYDRATION... 
HUNGER...ILLNESS AND DEATH. 

F/ GROUND WATER...
HIGH EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON GROUND WATER SUPPLIES IN SOME AREAS 
AS SURFACE WATER DWINDLES THIS SUMMER. INCREASED GROUND WATER 
PUMPING MAY CAUSE WATER TABLES TO DECLINE...WITH THE POSSIBILITY 
THAT SOME WELLS MAY GO DRY AND WILL NEED TO BE DEEPENED. 

G/ URBAN AREA DROUGHT IMPACTS...
RENO/SPARKS...
THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY /TMWA/ SERVING THE RENO AND 
SPARKS NV AREA...WILL HAVE ADEQUATE SURFACE AND GROUND WATER 
RESOURCES TO MEET ALL CONSUMER DEMANDS THIS SUMMER. THEY WILL 
CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THEIR OUTDOOR WATERING SCHEDULE AS IN PAST YEARS.
EVEN NUMBERED ADDRESSES MAY WATER ON TUESDAYS...THURSDAYS AND 
SATURDAYS...WHILE ODD NUMBERED ADDRESSES MAY WATER ON 
WEDNESDAYS...FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS. NO WATERING IS ALLOWED ON 
MONDAYS...OR ANY DAY BETWEEN NOON AND 6PM BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND 
LABOR DAY. SEE WWW.TMH2O.COM/CONSERVATION FOR DETAILS.

LAS VEGAS...
THE SOUTHERN NEVADA WATER AUTHORITY /SNWA/ AND THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY 
WATER DISTRICT /LVVWD/ HAVE ADOPTED MANDATORY CONSERVATION MEASURES. 
MANDATORY WATERING RESTRICTIONS PROHIBIT SPRINKLER IRRIGATION 
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 A.M. AND 7 P.M. FROM MAY 1 UNTIL OCTOBER 1.  
HOWEVER...WATERING IS PERMITTED ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.  SNWA AND LVVWD 
WILL HAVE ADEQUATE SURFACE AND GROUND WATER RESOURCES TO MEET ALL 
CONSUMER DEMANDS THIS SUMMER. SEE WWW.SNWA.COM OR WWW.LVVWD.COM FOR 
DETAILS.

5/ HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS AS OF MAY 17 2013...

STREAMFLOW IS EXPECTED TO BE WELL BELOW AVERAGE THIS SPRING AND 
SUMMER REGION WIDE DUE TO BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND SNOWFALL.  

A/ SUSAN RIVER...
ON MAY 17TH...FLOWS ON THE SUSAN RIVER AT SUSANVILLE WERE ABOUT 130 
CUBIC FEET PER SECOND /CFS/...OR ABOUT 63 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE 
FLOW OF 205 CFS FOR THIS DATE.

B/ PIT RIVER...
ON MAY 17TH...FLOWS NEAR CANBY CALIFORNIA...WERE ABOUT 24 CFS...OR 
ABOUT 7 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE FLOW OF 328 CFS FOR THIS DATE.

C/ UPPER FEATHER RIVER...
ON MAY 17TH...FLOWS ON THE MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIVER NEAR PORTOLA 
WERE ABOUT 28 CFS OR 8 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE FLOW OF 358 CFS FOR 
THIS DATE.

D/ LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE RIVER BASINS...
MAY 17TH STORAGE ON LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE BASIN RESERVOIRS WAS 
AS FOLLOWS... /NOTE...AF IS ABBREVIATION FOR ACRE FEET/.
LAKE TAHOE......405100 AF...54 PCT OF CAPACITY... 91 PCT OF MAY 31 AVG.
PROSSER RSVR.....12942 AF...45 PCT OF CAPACITY... 74 PCT OF MAY 31 AVG.
STAMPEDE RSVR...156714 AF...69 PCT OF CAPACITY...107 PCT OF MAY 31 AVG.
BOCA RSVR........29909 AF...73 PCT OF CAPACITY... 91 PCT OF MAY 31 AVG.

MAY 17TH FLOWS AND PERCENT OF AVERAGE FOR THIS DATE ON THE TRUCKEE 
RIVER WERE AS FOLLOWS... /NOTE...CFS IS ABBREVIATION FOR CUBIC FEET 
PER SECOND/.

TAHOE CITY... 70 CFS... 46 PCT OF  153 CFS AVERAGE
TRUCKEE......177 CFS... 33 PCT OF  535 CFS AVERAGE
FARAD........818 CFS... 46 PCT OF 1770 CFS AVERAGE
RENO.........614 CFS... 41 PCT OF 1500 CFS AVERAGE
VISTA........727 CFS... 41 PCT OF 1760 CFS AVERAGE
WADSWORTH....391 CFS... 24 PCT OF 1600 CFS AVERAGE
NIXON........416 CFS... 32 PCT OF 1320 CFS AVERAGE

STEAMBOAT CREEK...
MAY 17TH FLOWS ON STEAMBOAT CREEK WERE AS FOLLOWS...
AT STEAMBOAT..........  12 CFS... 40 PCT OF 30 CFS AVERAGE
AT RENO /SHORT LANE/..  13 CFS... 62 PCT OF 21 CFS AVERAGE

E/ CARSON RIVER BASIN ABOVE LAHONTAN RESERVOIR...
MAY 17TH FLOWS AND PERCENT OF AVERAGE FOR THIS DATE ON THE 
CARSON RIVER ABOVE LAHONTAN RESERVOIR WERE AS FOLLOWS...

EAST FK CARSON NR MARKLEEVILLE.... 647 CFS.. 53 PCT OF 1220 CFS AVERAGE 
EAST FK CARSON R NR GARDNERVILLE.. 613 CFS.. 47 PCT OF 1300 CFS AVERAGE
WEST FK CARSON R AT WOODFORDS..... 180 CFS.. 46 PCT OF  389 CFS AVERAGE 
CARSON RVR NR CARSON CITY......... 455 CFS.. 36 PCT OF 1260 CFS AVERAGE 
CARSON RVR AT DAYTON.............. 488 CFS.. 30 PCT OF 1630 CFS AVERAGE 
CARSON RVR NR FT CHURCHILL........ 518 CFS.. 44 PCT OF 1180 CFS AVERAGE

CARSON RIVER BELOW LAHONTAN RESERVOIR...
MAY 17TH STORAGE ON LAHONTAN RESERVOIR WAS 121873 AF...41 PERCENT OF 
CAPACITY...OR 51 PERCENT OF THE MAY 31 AVERAGE.  RELEASE FROM 
LAHONTAN WAS 819 CFS...87 PCT OF THE 941 CFS AVERAGE.  TRUCKEE 
CARSON IRRIGATION DISTRICT EXPECTS AGRICULTURAL DELIVERIES BELOW 
LAHONTAN DAM TO REMAIN AT ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF AVERAGE THIS SPRING 
AND SUMMER.

F/ WALKER RIVER BASIN...
AS OF MAY 17TH...STORAGE ON BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR WAS 15580 ACRE 
FEET... 37 PERCENT OF CAPACITY...AND 60 PCT OF THE MAY 31 AVERAGE. 
STORAGE ON TOPAZ WAS 17650 AF...30 PCT OF CAPACITY...44 PCT OF THE 
MAY 31 AVERAGE. WALKER RIVER IRRIGATION DISTRICT REPORTS THAT 
AGRICULTURAL DELIVERIES THIS SEASON WILL BE AT ABOUT 9 PERCENT OF 
AVERAGE FOR IRRIGATORS HAVING WEST WALKER RIVER WATER RIGHTS...23 
PERCENT OF AVERAGE FOR THOSE HAVING EAST WALKER RIVER WATER 
RIGHTS...AND ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF AVERAGE FOR THOSE HAVING MAINSTEM 
WALKER RIVER RIGHTS.  

MAY 17TH FLOWS AND PERCENT OF AVERAGE FOR THIS DATE ON THE WALKER 
RIVER WERE AS FOLLOWS... 

E WALKER RVR BLW BRIDGEPORT RSVR..117 CFS.. 46 PCT OF 256 CFS AVERAGE 
W WALKER RVR ABV TOPAZ RSVR...... 572 CFS.. 66 PCT OF 872 CFS AVERAGE 
W WALKER RVR BLW TOPAZ RSVR...... 482 CFS.. 74 PCT OF 647 CFS AVERAGE 
WALKER RIVER NEAR MASON.......... 298 CFS.. 69 PCT OF 433 CFS AVERAGE
WALKER RVR NR WABUSKA............  42 CFS.. 18 PCT OF 230 CFS AVERAGE 
WALKER RVR BLW WEBER DAM NR SCHURZ  5 CFS... 2 PCT OF 319 CFS AVERAGE

G/ HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN...
NEVADA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES OFFICIALS REPORT THAT ABOVE RYE 
PATCH RESERVOIR...THE HIGHEST WATER RIGHT PRIORITY THAT WILL BE 
SERVED IS 1872.  AS MOST WATER RIGHTS ON THE HUMBOLDT ARE MUCH LATER 
THAN 1872...MOST FARMERS ON THE HUMBOLDT ABOVE RYE PATCH WILL NOT 
GET ANY WATER THIS YEAR.  

AS OF MAY 11TH...STORAGE ON RYE PATCH RESERVOIR WAS 17600 ACRE 
FEET... 9 PERCENT OF CAPACITY...OR 15 PCT OF THE MAY 31 AVERAGE. 
PERSHING COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT OFFICIALS REPORT THAT 
AGRICULTURAL DELIVERIES THIS SEASON WILL BE AT ABOUT 8 PERCENT OF 
AVERAGE FOR IRRIGATORS BELOW RYE PATCH DAM.
  
MAY 17TH FLOWS AT VARIOUS POINTS ON THE HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN WERE AS 
FOLLOWS... 

MARYS RVR NR DEETH......... 116 CFS... 43 PCT OF THE  268 CFS AVERAGE
LAMOILLE CK NR LAMOILLE.... 129 CFS... 84 PCT OF THE  154 CFS AVERAGE 
HUMBOLDT RVR NR ELKO.......  10 CFS...  1 PCT OF THE  690 CFS AVERAGE 
HUMBOLDT RVR NR CARLIN..... 178 CFS... 18 PCT OF THE 1000 CFS AVERAGE 
HUMBOLDT RVR AT PALISADE... 194 CFS... 19 PCT OF THE 1000 CFS AVERAGE 
HUMBOLDT RVR AT BATTLE MTN   62 CFS...  7 PCT OF THE  918 CFS AVERAGE
HUMBOLDT RVR AT COMUS......  36 CFS...  5 PCT OF THE  738 CFS AVERAGE  
HUMBOLDT RVR AT IMLAY......   2 CFS...  0 PCT OF THE  605 CFS AVERAGE 
HUMBOLDT BLW RYE PATCH DAM. 180 CFS... 27 PCT OF THE  669 CFS AVERAGE

H/ JARBIDGE RIVER...
ON MAY 17TH...FLOWS ON THE JARBIDGE RIVER AT JARBIDGE NEVADA WERE 
162 CFS...OR 86 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE FLOW OF 189 CFS FOR THIS DATE.

I/ OWYHEE RIVER...
ON MAY 17TH...STORAGE ON WILDHORSE RESERVOIR WAS 30540 AF... 43 
PERCENT OF CAPACITY AND 52 PERCENT OF THE MAY 31ST AVERAGE.

FLOWS ON THE OWYHEE RIVER BELOW WILDHORSE DAM WERE 82 CFS...OR 68 
PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE FLOW OF 120 CFS FOR THIS DATE.  AT MOUNTAIN 
CITY...THE FLOW ON THE OWYHEE WAS 130 CFS...34 PERCENT OF THE 
AVERAGE FLOW OF 379 CFS FOR THIS DATE.

J/ SOUTHERN NEVADA...
NO UNUSUAL DROUGHT IMPACTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SOUTHERN NEVADA AS 
OF MID MAY. MAY 17TH STORAGE ON LAKE MEAD WAS 12719 KAF...49 PERCENT 
OF CAPACITY...AND 59 PERCENT OF THE MAY 31ST AVERAGE.

ON MAY 17TH THE FLOW ON THE COLORADO RIVER NEAR GRAND CANYON ARIZONA 
ABOVE LAKE MEAD WAS 13200 CFS...47 PCT OF THE AVERAGE OF 28000 CFS 
FOR THIS DATE. THE FLOW ON THE VIRGIN RIVER ABOVE LAKE MEAD NEAR 
OVERTON NEVADA WAS 9 CFS...4 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE OF 256 CFS FOR 
THIS DATE.  THE MUDDY RIVER NEAR GLENDALE NEVADA WAS AT 36 CFS...97 
PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE OF 37 CFS FOR THIS DATE.

6/ LONG RANGE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA...
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER... 

THE REMAINDER OF MAY IS EXPECTED TO BE COOLER THAN NORMAL THROUGHOUT 
THE REGION...ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA.    
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR NORMAL THROUGHOUT MOST OF 
NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA DURING THE REST OF MAY...THE EXCEPTION 
IS NORTHEAST NEVADA WHERE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE BELOW 
NORMAL.

THE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH AUGUST IS FOR 
WARMER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.  PRECIPITATION 
IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR NORMAL...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXTREME 
NORTHERN NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA...WHERE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO 
BE BELOW NORMAL.

NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THIS DROUGHT STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED IN MID JUNE.

&&

RELATED WEB SITES...
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CURRENT DROUGHT AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS 
MAY BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESSES /USE LOWER CASE 
LETTERS/...

U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR.........................  DROUGHTMONITOR.UNL.EDU
NOAA DROUGHT PAGE...WHICH INCLUDES DROUGHT MONITOR......  DROUGHT.GOV
CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER.....................  WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV

NWS ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE...  WATER.WEATHER.GOV/AHPS
USGS HYDROLOGIC MONITORING.....................  WATERWATCH.USGS.GOV

NWS CALIFORNIA NEVADA RIVER FORECAST CENTER......  WWW.CNRFC.NOAA.GOV

NWS NORTHWEST RIVER FORECAST CENTER........... WWW.NWRFC.NOAA.GOV/WS/ 

NWS COLORADO BASIN RIVER FORECAST CENTER........  WWW.CBRFC.NOAA.GOV/

NEVADA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE...
WWW.NV.NRCS.USDA.GOV/SNOW/

NWS CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER LONG RANGE OUTLOOK MAPS...
WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/PRODUCTS/FORECASTS/

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE...
HTTP://WWW.NV.NRCS.USDA.GOV/SNOW/INDEX.HTML

CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF WATER RESOURCES............ CDEC.WATER.CA.GOV/
CALIFORNIA WATER CONDITIONS..... WWW.WATER.CA.GOV/WATERCONDITIONS/
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES...........  WWW.ACWA.COM

NEVADA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES.................. WATER.NV.GOV/
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO................... WEATHER.GOV/RENO 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO..................  WEATHER.GOV/ELKO 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS.........  WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS

TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY........................  TMWA.COM
SOUTHERN NEVADA WATER AUTHORITY........................  SNWA.COM
LAS VEGAS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT........................ LVVWD.COM

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.........  WWW.USDA.GOV/DROUGHT U.S. 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICES AGENCY... WWW.FSA.USDA.GOV

U.S. FOREST SERVICE WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM FIRE DANGER CLASS....  
HTTP://WWW.WFAS.NET/IMAGES/FIREDANGER/FD_CLASS.PNG 

NATIONAL SIGNIFICANT WILDLAND FIRE POTENTIAL OUTLOOK...
HTTP://WWW.PREDICTIVESERVICES.NIFC.GOV/OUTLOOKS/MONTHLY_SEASONAL_OUTLOOK.PDF 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...
THE DROUGHT MONITOR IS A SYNTHESIS OF MULTIPLE DROUGHT INDICES AND 
IMPACTS THAT REPRESENTS A CONSENSUS OF SCIENTISTS IN MANY 
FEDERAL...STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES...AS WELL AS PRIVATE FIRMS.  THE 
DROUGHT MONITOR IS USED NATIONWIDE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
AGRICULTURE TO DETERMINE DROUGHT SEVERITY...TO DECLARE DROUGHT AND 
IS THE MECHANISM USED TO PROVIDE AID TO THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.

INFORMATION FOR THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN GATHERED FROM NWS AND U.S. 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OBSERVATION SITES...CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA 
DIVISIONS OF WATER RESOURCES AND STATE CLIMATOLOGISTS...NEVADA 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE...PERSHING COUNTY WATER CONSERVATION 
DISTRICT...WALKER RIVER IRRIGATION DISTRICT...WALKER RIVER PAIUTE 
TRIBE...FEDERAL WATER MASTERS...TRUCKEE/CARSON IRRIGATION 
DISTRICT...AND NWS OFFICES IN RENO...ELKO AND LAS VEGAS.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS DROUGHT INFORMATION
STATEMENT PLEASE CONTACT...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
2350 RAGGIO PKWY
RENO NV 89512
PHONE...775-673-8100
WEATHER.GOV/RENO
REV.WEBMASTER@NOAA.GOV

$$






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