Water supply monitoring

Rivers and streams are an important part of the state's water supply. These online tools track flow levels.

• Freshwater DataStream – current and historical continuous data for rivers and streams  
  • Instream Flow Data – includes USGS gage (control points) identified in rule
• U.S. Geological Survey – Look at daily streamflow data for Washington state
• Northwest River Forecast Center – View river volume forecasts for the coming year

Mountain snow acts like a water supply reservoir as it slowly melts during spring and summer.

• Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS):
  • Predefined maps - links to snowpack maps and data
  • Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal - Interactive map
  • Washington Snowpack Summary - Maps and Graphs
  • Washington SNOTEL - Map of Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal
•  National Weather Service:
  • Regional Snow Analysis

Rain, lowland snow, and other precipitation are important contributors to water supply.

• Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS):
  • Predefined maps - links to precipitation maps and data
• Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network - Citizens provide these weather measurements

Groundwater — water held in aquifers — is critical to the water cycle.

• USGS: Washington Active Water Level Network
• Ecology: Statewide 2017 Groundwater Assessment:
• Ecology: Groundwater Quality Assessment

We use these data sources to look for the first signs of drought.

• U.S. Drought Monitor - View Washington state drought monitor map
• National Drought Mitigation Center - Look at how drought is affecting agriculture, tourism, fire, etc.
• U.S. Water Monitor - This site displays federal water supply data

Short and long-range climate forecasts allow us to better understand potential impacts to the state's water supply.

• National Weather Service - The Climate Prediction Center develops short-term and seasonal outlooks
• Western Regional Climate Center - See recent climate anomaly maps and tables
• U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit - This dashboard pulls together several forecasts and outlooks, and also includes current and historical observations

The Yakima River basin is an important agricultural center for the state. Many farmers there depend on water from federally managed reservoirs.

• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Track the five reservoirs that support agriculture