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Show lly Karl V. Storm Great Basin Experiment Station, Forest Station. I At this time each year, the farmers 'of Sanpete County are confronted with the all important question ot whether or not there is sufficient stored water in the Wasatch mountains moun-tains in the form of snow to insure them a good crop 'production. For the purpose of assisting the farmers of this county in ' planning their spring cultivation, the Great Basin Experiment Station has, therefore, there-fore, made effort daring the past few years to obtain data of value in carrying out this work. Precipitation Precipita-tion records are taken yearlong at three different stations alpng the Ephraim Creek watershed, at elevations eleva-tions of 7500, 8750, and 10,200 feet. During the winter months these records re-cords are obtained only with extreme difficulty as it is necessary to make rather hazardous trips weekly from Ephraim to the top of the Wasatch range on skiis and snowshoes, regardless re-gardless of poor weather conditions. However, this effort is well compensated com-pensated for in that the farmers may be provided each year with snow measurement figures of value in assisting them to approximate what the streamflow will be in the irriga tion channels during the period the water is most needed, and to decide whether or not it is advisable to cultivate on a large or small scale. If the amount of snow on the ground at the end of March is less than that on the same date other years during which poor crops were produced, it may be assured that the success of crop production for the current season sea-son will be questionable, and the acreage to be tilled regulated accordingly. accord-ingly. On the other hand, if the amount of snow on the watersheds at the end of March is equal, or above that of other seasons for which . satisfactory crop production is already al-ready known, the farmers may feel safe in cultivating more extensively. Throughout the Arid West an adequate ade-quate water supply is the most important im-portant factor in crop production and Sanpete County is no exception to this fact. The irrigation water is received almost entirely from snows-i accumulated in the Wasatch mountains, moun-tains, though to be sure rains during May, June, and Juiy are or varying importance. Probably 90 per cent of the irrigation water locally, comes from the season's accumulated snows. The present season is characterized characteriz-ed by an unusually heavy snowfall during the early months, namely, October and November, followed by a very light fall during January and February. On November 30 the accumulated snow on the ground at the Great Basin Experiment Station Sta-tion near the head of Ephraim can- r yon, elevation 8750 feet, measured 30 inches. This amount is the most : recorded on this date since 1913 ; . iiu Lite iiicuoui cuiciii.a ncjc uiai i starte'd. The snowfall for Decem-i Decem-i ber 1919 was 1 inch above the average aver-age for the same months in 1915, : 1916, and 1917, when 61, 77, and 38 inches were recorded respectively. These figures show that in January I 1920 (he snowfall was about 43 I inches less than the average of this month for the years named. The snowfall for February 1920 was 22 '. irches as compared with 66, 31 and 1 32 inches for 1915, 1916, and 1917 respectively, or 21 inches below the 'average for these years. J On February 28 the accumulated' snow on the ground at the Experiment Experi-ment Station was 40 inches, or the equivalent of 10 inches of water. In comparison to this figure on the same date in 1915 there were 51 inches of snow; in 1916, 56 inches; and in 1917, 50 inches. Water ! equivalent data for seasons other : than 1920 are not available. The , depth of the accumulated snows on February 28 was approximately 12 inches below the average of that for the years mentioned. The snowfall for March was approximately ap-proximately 58 inches or 23 inches above the average for this month. The heavy March snows have partially partial-ly compensated for the light fall of January and February in that they contain more water and have packed very well. The accumulated snow on March 30 at the Experiment Station Sta-tion was 62 inches. As stated, the rain received early in the spring and summer have some ertect on local crop production, and it varies appreciably year for year. The precipitation received from April to July 1919 in the form of both rain and snow, totalled only 1.75 (inches, while that for the same peri-'od peri-'od in 1915 was 11.65 inches; 1916, i'3.74 inches, and in 1918, 7.69 inches. The precipitation for these four I months during 1919 was therefore, only 6.51 inches J or 20.5 per cent of the average for the years 1915 to 1918 inclusive. The amount ot snow over the Wasatch watershed is close to average aver-age at the present time. There are also certain factors which will tend to maintain a good streamflow late in the sprirg. Among them are (1) the somewhat improved conditions con-ditions over the watershed due to control of grazing which, of course, is accompanied by stabilization of the flow, and (2) the heavily packed wnow which obviously lasts later in the spring than the "fluffy" kind of January and 'February. The following summary table may be of interest and value to the readers of the Pyramid: ' Summary of Precipitation Data (Great Basin Exp. Sta.) ( 1915-1920 inc.) Year snow on Precipitation Crop ground April to July I yield Mar. 3 0 inclusive. (inches) (snow & rain) 1915 36 11.65 large 1916 49 3.74 I medium 1917 53 13.87 large 1918 46 7.69 medium 1919 44 1.75v small 1920 62 ? ? |