The History of Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting
The seven oral history interviews and three articles in this volume recount significant historical developments in snow surveying and waters supply forecasting in the Western U.S. since 1935.
Edited by Douglas Helms, Steven Phillips, and Paul Reich, 2008
Since 1935, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has coordinated the cooperative effort in snow surveying and waters supply forecasting in the Western States, known for many years as the Federal-State Cooperative Snow Surveys. In 1939, the Soil Conservation Service assumed responsibility for administering the snow survey from the Bureau of Agricultural Engineering.
The seven oral history interviews and three articles in this volume recount significant historical developments in this program since its establishment through the full implementation of the SNOTEL system. Two articles by Douglas Helms provide an overview of the program.
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NRCS History Publications
Browse our collection of NRCS historical notes and historical insights.
Learn MoreA Brief History of NRCS
For more than 80 years, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has been a pioneer in conservation, working with landowners, local and state governments, and other federal agencies to maintain healthy and productive working landscapes.
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