YREKA, Calif., Feb 10, 2026 — The Klamath National Forest has completed its February 1 snow surveys in the Scott River sub-basin as part of the statewide California Cooperative Snow Survey Program. These surveys help forecast the amount of water that will be available later in the year for agriculture, hydropower generation, recreation, and streamflow management.
So far this winter, weather in the Scott River Valley has been unseasonably dry and mild. Aside from a storm system in early January, little precipitation has occurred. These conditions are reflected in the February survey results. Across all measurement sites, snow depth averaged 29.4 percent of the historical average, while Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)—which measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack—averaged 30.2 percent of the historical average.
Historically, snowpack in the region typically reaches its seasonal peak between late March and early April, meaning there is still potential for snow accumulation in the coming months.
Snow surveys are conducted monthly from February through May. Forest Service employees travel to established survey sites in the headwaters of the Scott River watershed to collect data. The newest survey site, Scott Mountain, has been monitored for approximately 40 years, while the Middle Boulder site has provided data for nearly 80 years. Some sites are easily accessed from Forest roads, while others require several hours of travel by snowshoe or snowmobile.
At each site, snow depth and SWE are measured using a snow sampling tube that is driven through the snowpack to the ground. The extracted snow core is weighed to determine its water content. The collected data is forwarded to the State of California, where it is compiled with other statewide measurements as part of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys program. The data is managed by the California Department of Water Resources. More information is available at the California Data Exchange Center website: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow.html
