Milk River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

Below average to average natural runoff volumes are forecast for the March to September 2006 period in the Milk River basin (Table 1). Current forecasts in the basin range from 86 to 91% of the median, 22 to 28% higher than volumes recorded during the March through September 2005 period. For the Milk River at Milk River, current forecasted values for the March to September 2006 period would rank 37th lowest in 91 years of record (1912-2001).

Although snowpack is currently much below average, it is the halfway point of the snow accumulation season in this area. Future snowfall, and summer rainfall, will readily translate into runoff as soil conditions are very wet after heavy summer and fall rain.