Deep mountain snow translates to favorable 2015 whitewater season
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Snowpack in the Main Salmon drainage was 94% of normal on Feb. 20 - great news for the 2015 rafting season![/caption]
IOGA press release Feb. 20, 2015
BOISE, Idaho -- While parts of the American West are suffering from a lack of snow, Idaho mountain snowpack levels are ranging from 75 to 94 percent of normal in Central Idaho, home of the nationally popular Salmon, Lochsa and Payette rivers.
"We look to our neighbors, and we look pretty good," says Ron Abramovich, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
"It looks to me that we have solid snowpack where it counts," adds John May, executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association (IOGA). "We're already seeing some national media coverage of the drought in California, and we just want folks to know that our world-renowned whitewater rivers are going to have a great season."
IOGA recently launched the newly branded web site Raft Idaho (raftidaho.org) to make it easier for customers to select river trips and outfitters for a trip-of-a-lifetime rafting experience. Idaho is nationally known for its whitewater, with more than 3,000 miles of white-knuckle rapids, the most in the lower 48 states.
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Snowpack map dated today, Friday, Feb. 20 Source: NRCS[/caption]
Snowpack levels for the Selway River are 106 percent of normal, the Lochsa 93 percent of normal, the Middle Fork Salmon River 94 percent of normal, the Main Salmon 94 percent of normal, and the upper Snake River 108 percent of normal, according to NRCS snowtel data.
"The water levels look great like always for the Lochsa and Selway," Abramovich said. "Kayakers are out there boating right now."
All of the key reservoirs on the Payette and Snake rivers should fill to 100 percent of capacity, storing water for irrigation and recreation, Abramovich said.
"So far, we're in really good shape," says Chris Swersey, owner of Silver Cloud Expeditions, an outfitter in Salmon that runs fishing and rafting trips on the famed Salmon River - River of No Return. "We're really excited about the summer season. We're feeling really good about it."
"I've been talking to a lot of people in California who think we're in the same situation that they are, and I've assured we're looking good," adds Jerry Hughes, owner of Hughes River Expeditions. "I'm pretty optimistic that we're going to have a great season."
[caption id="attachment_294" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Rafting on the Lochsa River. Lots of teamwork and fun![/caption]
National Weather Service officials said a weather front moving into Idaho on Friday should bring temperatures down to normal levels next week after several weeks of above-average temperatures. The 30-day and 90-day weather forecasts call for "equal chances" of precipitation in the long term.
Deep snow in the Upper Snake region usually translates to a fun-filled summer in the Middle Snake River region near Twin Falls, says Olin Gardner, owner of Idaho Guide Service. They've seen a big increase in Stand-up Paddle Board use on their flatwater trips to the base of Shoshone Falls, and on the Hagerman whitewater section of the Snake River.
"2015 is looking to be an epic season for us," said Gardner said.
Snowpack in the Main Salmon drainage was 94% of normal on Feb. 20 - great news for the 2015 rafting season![/caption]
IOGA press release Feb. 20, 2015
BOISE, Idaho -- While parts of the American West are suffering from a lack of snow, Idaho mountain snowpack levels are ranging from 75 to 94 percent of normal in Central Idaho, home of the nationally popular Salmon, Lochsa and Payette rivers.
"We look to our neighbors, and we look pretty good," says Ron Abramovich, water supply specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
"It looks to me that we have solid snowpack where it counts," adds John May, executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association (IOGA). "We're already seeing some national media coverage of the drought in California, and we just want folks to know that our world-renowned whitewater rivers are going to have a great season."
IOGA recently launched the newly branded web site Raft Idaho (raftidaho.org) to make it easier for customers to select river trips and outfitters for a trip-of-a-lifetime rafting experience. Idaho is nationally known for its whitewater, with more than 3,000 miles of white-knuckle rapids, the most in the lower 48 states.
[caption id="attachment_292" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Snowpack map dated today, Friday, Feb. 20 Source: NRCS[/caption]
Snowpack levels for the Selway River are 106 percent of normal, the Lochsa 93 percent of normal, the Middle Fork Salmon River 94 percent of normal, the Main Salmon 94 percent of normal, and the upper Snake River 108 percent of normal, according to NRCS snowtel data.
"The water levels look great like always for the Lochsa and Selway," Abramovich said. "Kayakers are out there boating right now."
All of the key reservoirs on the Payette and Snake rivers should fill to 100 percent of capacity, storing water for irrigation and recreation, Abramovich said.
"So far, we're in really good shape," says Chris Swersey, owner of Silver Cloud Expeditions, an outfitter in Salmon that runs fishing and rafting trips on the famed Salmon River - River of No Return. "We're really excited about the summer season. We're feeling really good about it."
"I've been talking to a lot of people in California who think we're in the same situation that they are, and I've assured we're looking good," adds Jerry Hughes, owner of Hughes River Expeditions. "I'm pretty optimistic that we're going to have a great season."
[caption id="attachment_294" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Rafting on the Lochsa River. Lots of teamwork and fun![/caption]
National Weather Service officials said a weather front moving into Idaho on Friday should bring temperatures down to normal levels next week after several weeks of above-average temperatures. The 30-day and 90-day weather forecasts call for "equal chances" of precipitation in the long term.
Deep snow in the Upper Snake region usually translates to a fun-filled summer in the Middle Snake River region near Twin Falls, says Olin Gardner, owner of Idaho Guide Service. They've seen a big increase in Stand-up Paddle Board use on their flatwater trips to the base of Shoshone Falls, and on the Hagerman whitewater section of the Snake River.
"2015 is looking to be an epic season for us," said Gardner said.
