Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting (10.907)

Program

10.907 Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Authorization

Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, as amended, Public Law 74-46.

Program Number

10.907

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide information on forthcoming seasonal water supplies from streams that derive most of their run off from snow melt. To help farm operators, rural communities, and municipalities use water- supply forecasts in managing water resources. To provide hydrometeorological data for regulating reservoir storage and managing stream flow. To provide soil moisture/temperature and climate data to support drought assessment, fire hazard assessment, wildlife management and climate change research. To obtain, evaluate and disseminate climate data in support of NRCS conservation activities including models.

Types of Assistance

Dissemination of Technical Information.

Uses and Use Restrictions

The information is used by the owners and operators of the 30,000,000 irrigated acres in the mountain States, and the far West. The data are also used in administering international and interstate river flow distribution contracts and agreements, and in the regulation of hundreds of small and large reservoirs for irrigation, flood control, power generation, recreation, industry, and municipal supplies. The data are also used for drought, flood, fire, and climate assessments. Cooperators include other Federal agencies, State agencies, municipalities, irrigation districts, water associations and private utilities, and water management officials of Canada and Mexico.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

General public, including those located in the U.S. Territories.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General public, including those located in the U.S. Territories.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Individuals can make requests for reports from NRCS Field and State offices that issued them, and from the NRCS National Water and Climate Center at Portland, OR.

Award Procedure

Not applicable.

Deadlines

None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not applicable.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Not applicable.

Audits

Not applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Program Accomplishments

Daily snow and precipitation data is gathered from 675 automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites and 1150 manual snow courses in West U.S. and Alaska. These data and 11,534 forecasts of seasonal volume stream flows at 575 stream gaging points are provided to water users via the internet address "http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov". Climate analyses are performed for soil surveys (40 narratives per year) and for wetland determination (6,700 WETS tables) nationally. Soil moisture analysis has been done to more effectively evaluate potential runoff conditions and for drought and flood potential.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1000-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Salaries and expenses) FY 07 $10,848,700; FY 08 est $10,760,000; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Snow Surveys, AIB 536.

Related Programs

10.902, Soil and Water Conservation; 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

State and local offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the National Water & Climate Center, Portland, OR. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses. California's Department of Water Resources, which coordinates and issues snow surveys for that State, and the British Columbia Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, supply data for the monthly west-wide summaries.

Headquarters Office

Deputy Chief for Science and Technology Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 720-4630. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.