To provide information on forthcoming seasonal water
supplies from streams that derive most of their run off from snow melt. To
help farm operators, rural communities, and municipalities use water- supply
forecasts in managing water resources. To provide hydrometeorological data for
regulating reservoir storage and managing stream flow. To provide soil
moisture/temperature and climate data to support drought assessment, fire
hazard assessment, wildlife management and climate change research. To obtain,
evaluate and disseminate climate data in support of NRCS conservation
activities including models.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The information is used by the owners and operators of
the 30,000,000 irrigated acres in the mountain States, and the far West. The
data are also used in administering international and interstate river flow
distribution contracts and agreements, and in the regulation of hundreds of
small and large reservoirs for irrigation, flood control, power generation,
recreation, industry, and municipal supplies. The data are also used for
drought, flood, fire, and climate assessments. Cooperators include other
Federal agencies, State agencies, municipalities, irrigation districts, water
associations and private utilities, and water management officials of Canada
and Mexico.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: General
public, including those located in the U.S. Territories.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
General public, including those located in the U.S. Territories.
Pre-application Coordination:
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
Individuals can make requests for reports from NRCS Field and State offices
that issued them, and from the NRCS National Water and Climate Center at
Portland, OR.
Award Procedure: Not
applicable.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Not applicable.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Not applicable.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Not applicable.
Audits: Not applicable.
Records: Not applicable.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
12-1000-0-1-302.
Obligations: (Salaries and
expenses) FY 01 $5,991,192; FY 02 est $9,008,981; and FY 03 est $9,162,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Not applicable.
Daily snow and precipitation data is gathered from 660
automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites and 1200 manual snow courses in West
U.S. and Alaska. This data and over 9,000 forecasts of seasonal volume stream
flows at 709 stream aging points are provided to water users via the internet
address "http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov". Climate analyses are
performed for soil surveys (40 narratives per year) and for wetland
determination (6,700 WETS tables) nationally. Soil moisture analysis has been
done to more effectively evaluate potential runoff conditions and for drought
and flood potential.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Snow Surveys, AIB 536.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
State and local offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the National Water & Climate
Center, Portland, OR. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses.
California's Department of Water Resources, which coordinates and issues snow
surveys for that State, and the British Columbia Department of Lands, Forests
and Water Resources, supply data for the monthly west-wide summaries.
Headquarters Office: Deputy
Chief for Science and Technology Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone:
(202) 720-4630. FTS is not available.
