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Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting
To help farm operators, rural communities, and municipalities use water- supply forecasts in managing water resources.
To provide hydrometeorological data for regulating
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.
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
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.
Program Accomplishments
Daily snow and precipitation data is gathered from 675 automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites and 1150 manual snow courses in West U.S. and Alaska. These data and 11,534 forecasts of seasonal volume stream flows at 575 stream gaging 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.
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.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
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 Procedures
Not applicable.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, as amended, Public Law 74-46.
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.
Obigations
(Salaries and expenses) FY 07 $10,848,700; FY 08 est $10,760,000; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
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.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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