AZ Snowpack Accumulation 80% Below Average This Winter - Verde Basin Now At 9% Of Average

[hatrack]

The final snow survey of the season produced bleak results for the Verde River Basin, which contained only 9 percent of its average snowpack Sunday. Lack of winter precipitation and early runoff are to blame.

The U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service released the statewide results of its final snowpack surveys this week in its Arizona Water Supply Outlook Report. The overall snowpack accumulation in Arizona this winter was 80 percent below-average. "Virtually all of Arizona received below average precipitation last year," said Tony Haffer, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix. "In addition, the same can be said for most of the last decade as well."

Climatologists have stated that the Southwest's drought cycles historically can last 20 to 30 years. Now a new study using 19 climate-modeling groups says the Southwest already is transitioning into permanent drought conditions because of global warming.

The NRCS is predicting well below normal runoff for Arizona this spring.

EDIT

http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=43550&TM=25461.27

[phantom power]

1. It's remarkable, how little attention this gets here in Phoenix.

Most people seem to think that the snowpack and rain will come back. Yet there is no credible reason to think so. There is no water rationing whatsoever in response to this. No curtailment of new housing developments. The housing slump will probably slow them down, but there is no sense of curtailing development in response to reduced water supplies.

[greenman3610]

3. that's why I say

with all due respect to DUers from
Arizona,
Fuck em.
fuck em all that are pursuing unlimited
development in an area that has no water,
and expecting somehow that magic
fairy dust will make it all work out.

[NMDemDist2]

2. here's a good link for Western States snowpack

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/links_wsfs.html