by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
My intention with this post is to begin a regular documentation of the local effects that hydrological issues have on life here in the valley.
This post from last month–Water Water Everywhere?–discusses some of the hydrological factors involved in how we access water resources for drinking and agriculture here in the valley, including a discussion of the water table and the Deep Aquifer, from which most of our water is drawn. The distinction between the water table and the Deep Aquifer is important. Rainfall, which can alter the local water table either by its presence or absence, does not affect the amount of water in the Deep Aquifer. Please refer to that article for more information.
Here’s a quick Flathead Valley hydrology snapshot from July 4, 2023:
| Rainfall YTD | 5” (avg 9.72”) |
| Flathead Lake Level | 12” below 23-year median, 9” below full pool |
| Valley Sreamflow | 60% below average |
| Snowpack | 86% of average |
| Snowmelt | Fastest in 30 years |
