News Release
Media invited to peak season snow survey March 30
Release No. 2017.03.024
Contact:
Tracy Robillard, Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 503-414-3220. Email: Tracy.Robillard@or.usda.gov
Julie Koeberle, Hydrologist
Phone: 503-414-3272. Email: julie.koeberle@or.usda.gov
Media invited to peak season snow survey March 30
Who: All interested media
What: Media Day at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) snow telemetry (SNOTEL) site on Mt. Hood.
Julie Koeberle, Hydrologist for NRCS Oregon, will lead a manual snow survey and then report on the status of the region’s snowpack. Reporters will have an opportunity to ask questions and interview NRCS staff.
When: Thursday, March 30, 2016 at 11 a.m.
Where: Media should meet at 11 a.m. at the lower parking lot of the Timberline Lodge ski area, located at 27500 West Leg Road. We will snow-shoe about a quarter of a mile to access the Mt. Hood snow telemetry site (snow shoes will be provided with RSVP).
RSVP: Media representatives are asked to RSVP if they are planning to attend to: Tracy Robillard, at (503) 414-3220 or email: tracy.robillard@or.usda.gov. **If calling Thursday morning, call mobile (971) 201-2692.
Visuals: Demonstration of how the NRCS manually measures snowpack and how the automated SNOTEL site works.
Attire: Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and shoes for walking in deeper snow, including hats, gloves and snow boots and snow shoes. We can provide snowshoes on request, let us know you will need them when you RSVP.
Background: NRCS installs, operates and maintains an extensive, automated network of SNOTEL weather stations to collect snowpack and related climatic data in the Western United States. The system evolved from NRCS's Congressional mandate in the mid-1930's "to measure snowpack in the mountains of the West and forecast the water supply." The program began with manual measurements of snow courses. Since 1980, automated SNOTEL weather stations have reliably and efficiently collected the data needed to produce water supply forecasts and to support the resource management activities of NRCS and others. In addition to measuring the snowpack’s water content, SNOTEL sites also measure annual precipitation, air temperature, snow depth and soil moisture. Data are reported by radio each hour and available on the internet. The high-elevation locations and the broad coverage of the network provide important data used by water managers, farmers, recreationists, researchers and emergency managers for natural disasters such as floods and droughts.
The NRCS Oregon Snow Survey Team is responsible for measuring and reporting snow pack accumulation at about 300 data collection sites throughout Oregon and Washington. This data is critical in developing water supply forecasts to help communities plan for the upcoming water year. Snowpack data is updated hourly and is available on the Oregon NRCS Snow Survey website at www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow.
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides financial and technical assistance to voluntary farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to implement conservation practices on private lands. By working collectively with partners and stakeholders, NRCS helps maintain healthy and productive working landscapes, benefitting both environmental and agricultural needs. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
Local contact information is located in the telephone book under the federal government listing or can be found online at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.
