The weather is heating up finally, and after several weeks of cloudy and partly cloudy days, even snow, today's sky is clear and the sun is beating down on the high mountains. Let the melting begin!



This past winter was a record year for snowfall and the watershed where I live has 233% of average snowpack. It's more than the depth of the snow, it also has a high moisture content. The part of the snowmelt that runs toward the Pacific Ocean is going to raise the level of Lake Mead 44 feet, which it badly needs.


22 foot drifts

This means a lot of water is going to be coming down my river heading for the Gulf of Mexico.

300 cfs (cubic feet per second)



467 cfs - lower board is covered


The water is going to get deeper soon - maybe double the volume.

This deep, fast river is not good for fly fishing, so we aren't going to see any fishermen until it goes down, maybe in early July if we are really lucky, but probably not until August. There goes my fishing income, at least a $1200 to $1500 loss. Fortunately, I don't count on that income to pay a mortgage, but it does help with the property taxes and insurance.

I don't mind a lot, though, it's just one of those things that goes with being close to nature. But I'll miss saying hello to the fishermen and making bread and cookies for them.