The NRCS released their May streamflow forecast last week.  The complete Montana Water Supply Outlook Report may be viewed or downloaded at https://www.nevadacreek.com/water_files/docs/forecasts/current_forecast.pdf.  The short summary for Nevada creek is of no surprise to anyone:

• 42% of normal for the month of May
• 45% of normal for the months May through July

Currently our lower & mid-elevation Snotels report 0 snowpack.  The higher elevation on Nevada Ridge is at 22% of normal for snow water equivalent.  Needless to say, without precipitation we can anticipate very low levels of creek flow to be available for decreed water rights.

Contract Water:  At last weeks W.U.A. Board of Directors meeting it was decided that all deliveries to contract water users will begin “on contract”.  There will be no issuance of “flood” water, but 100% of full contract amounts will be available.  The reservoir dropped off of the spillway this last weekend and we are right now approximately 150 AF below capacity.  We will monitor conditions over the next weeks and it may be possible that “extra” water could become available later in the season.

Current Nevada creek reservoir conditions can be viewed any time at https://www.nevadacreek.com/?page_id=24.

Current status of decreed irrigation rights can be viewed any time at https://www.nevadacreek.com/?page_id=26.