snowpack

Snowpack is often described as the West’s largest natural reservoir, storing water through the winter and slowly releasing it into rivers and reservoirs each spring. But new research suggests the way forests are managed can influence how much of that snow actually becomes part of the water supply.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service of Nevada, or NRCS, conducted a snow survey on Mar. 2 to assess the status of the region’s snowpack.

Cold temperatures have settled over much of the Mountain West this winter, but precipitation has been harder to come by, leaving large parts of the region unusually dry for late January.

New research shows that mountain regions around the world are warming faster than the lowlands below them. Scientists say that could have big consequences for the Mountain West, where communities rely on snow and ice for their water supply.

A new study in the Rocky Mountains has found a steep drop in the number of young American pikas — small, high-altitude mammals known for their distinctive squeaks and rock-pile homes. Researchers say the 50% decline could be an early sign of deeper ecological shifts as the climate warms.

A new study shows climate change is melting glaciers and permafrost in the Mountain West. Researchers say this can trigger the production of toxic mercury in mountain wetlands, posing risks to water supplies and wildlife.

For decades, hydrologists believed most spring snowmelt rapidly enters rivers and streams. But a new study from the University of Utah shows that most of it spends years as groundwater before it spills into reservoirs – new research that could help western water managers and farmers better plan each year.

A new study reveals snow in the Rocky Mountains is contaminated with mercury and other metals, and that pollution has historic causes.

Winter is coming. But how much snow will it bring? Federal forecasters recently released their outlook for the season, and projections for the Mountain West are all over the map.

The federal government is spending nearly $5 million to improve drought monitoring and forecasts in the West to help states, communities and farmers better plan and prepare for droughts.