One more summer-like day was forecast this week, so we headed up to the Crooked River. It was mostly to check on spring run off. This winter, as we’ve noted many times in posts, we saw a lot of snow days.
The Crooked River canyon has come into it’s spring colors and the water levels pushed up on the banks.
I think the saying . . . feast or famine, accurately describes Central Oregon’s water issues. Last year, even after runoff, reservoirs sat at about twenty percent full.
When we visited the river it was running at 1340 cfs and the Prineville Reservoir was at 85 percent capacity. The late winter snows have improved drought conditions and hopefully will help avoid last fall’s disastrous 10 cfs levels in the Crooked River.
Years of drought conditions are not easily fixed. There are still severe and extreme drought conditions across most of the east side.
The Crooked River’s flow has dropped to fishable levels but the mountains are still snow covered.
Oregon rivers are showing the signs of heavy runoff, filling reservoirs, as well as irrigation ditches.
It’s good news for farmers and fisherman, at least for this year.
Yeah for snow melt! The goslings are adorable.