Governor Schweitzer releases the Governor's Report on the Potential for Drought 2009

Press Release

Governor Schweitzer releases the Governor's Report on the Potential for Drought 2009

Each spring, the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee presents a report on the potential for drought for the coming growing and water use season to the Governor. The report summarizes water supply and moisture conditions including projections of what Montanans can expect through mid-summer for reservoir storage, stream flow, soil moisture, and agricultural production.

"We have a good snow pack in the mountains, which will help sustain water supplies into mid-summer and our reservoirs are looking good," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "But as a farmer and soil scientist I always pray we get some more good moisture this spring, particularly in the northeastern part of the state."

The report indicates that at this time, the outlook for water supplies dependent on snowmelt from mountain snowpack is favorable with drought impacts expected to be Low to Moderate. The potential for drought for dryland farming and livestock production at this time range from Low to Moderate into mid-July.

Water supply and moisture condition experts on the Governor's Drought Advisory Committee are confirming that Montanans can expect a normal water supply and water use season for 2009. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reported that mountain snowpack across the state, as of April 16, is about 90 to 100 percent of average for snow water content. Storage levels of the state's large reservoirs are, also, average to above.

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