Cold and Wet February Boosts Prospects of Spring and Summer Water Supply

After abundant snowfall in many of Montana's river basins during February, streamflow forecasts issued by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on March 1 indicate an increased likelihood of near to slightly above average spring and summer stream flows across the state.

February snowfall totals were impressive at mountain and valley locations across Montana, some locations west of the Divide added up to sixteen inches of water to the snowpack during the month. "The Bitterroot, Upper Clark Fork, Lower Clark Fork, southern Flathead, Gallatin and Shields River basins had monthly...