As of March 1, snow packs’ water contents improved over last month’s readings throughout most of western Wyoming. The month of February had some pretty good snow storms which brought many snow packs above median. 

The Snake River Basin’s snow packs overall were 117 percent of median, quite close to last year’s median at 118 percent of median. Snow courses in the Star Valley Area ranged from a low at the Grover Park Divide manual snow course at 95 percent of median to a high at the Willow Creek Snotel Site at 112 percent of median. The Greys River Drainage Basin’s snow packs ranged from a low at the Spring Creek Divide Snotel Site at 104 percent of median to a high at Blind Bull Summit Snotel Site at 108 percent of median.

The Greys River was predicted to flow 82 percent of average. The Salt River was predicted to flow 77 percent of average. The Palisades Reservoir was at 80 percent of capacity. New water flow predictions will be coming in the next couple of weeks for March 1.

The Upper Bear River Basin’s snow packs were overall 107 percent of median, substantially better than last year’s median of 82 percent.  Snow packs in the Cokeville area ranged from a low at the Big Park manual snow course at 97 percent of median to a high at the Salt River Summit Snotel at 105 percent of median. Snow packs at the head of the Bear River ranged from a low at Lilly Lake Snotel Sites at 93 percent of median to a high at Bug Lake Snotel Site at 122 percent of median. The Uinta Mountains snow packs are doing very well this year.

As of February 1, the Smiths Fork River northeast of Cokeville, Wyoming, was predicted to flow 80 percent of average. The Bear River was predicted to flow 86 percent of average.  These predictions should go up based on increased snow packs during February. The Woodruff Narrows Reservoir is 36 percent of capacity.

As of March 1, the Lower Green River Basin’s snow packs, as a whole, were 96 percent of median, somewhat higher than last year’s snow pack at 88 percent of median. Snow courses in the Upper Hams Fork River Drainage ranged from a low at Hams Fork Snotel Site at 92 percent of median to a high at both the Indian Creek and Kelley Range Station Snotel Sites at 93 percent of median.  The Indian Creek Snotel Site’s snow pack has really increased the past month.

As of February 1, the Hams Fork River was predicted to flow 69 percent of normal.  The Viva Naughton Reservoir was 65 percent of current capacity. Snow storms in February really helped improve snow packs throughout Lincoln County by increasing moisture contents. Care needs to be taken in the back country for avalanche danger.  Heavy water laden snow packs on top of low-density water content snow packs are a recipe for disaster. Be careful to avoid slopes over 30 percent.