Low Snow Pack

Observation by Nancy Yeaton:

There is a lack of abundant amounts of snow, which usually lingers until around the first of July. Normally, we have so many feet of snow throughout the village and the mountains (Mt. St. John directly behind the village and Mt. Bede behind and across the village, which provides water for our four lakes behind the community). One of our professors (elder) stated he was concerned for our fish, berries, and plants, how it could impact anything dependent on the water coming from the mountains. His concern is that the water will not be cool enough for the fish unless we receive a lot of rain throughout the summer.

**John Warren, Director of Engineering with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, writes:

The water supply for Nanwalek is a combination of snow melt and rain water that either falls on the reservoir or comes off the hills through the watershed and streams. It is a relatively small, low elevation watershed and an also small reservoir, about eight-feet deep when full. In the spring when the snow melts, there is about a month when the melt water is a major source. As these are low elevation hills, the melt happens pretty quickly and once gone (and through most of the year), the major water source is rain. In drought years, Nanwalek can have and has in the past had water shortages. When the water level in the reservoir is dropping significantly, Nanwalek should be implementing water conservation measures. If the water level continues to drop, Nanwalek should contact the Remote Maintenance Worker (RMW) that serves the community. The RMWs that currently serve Nanwalek are Steve Evavold and Floyd Murphy.

To learn more, go to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation RMW program page.

Comments from LEO Editors:

There is a number of communities located mostly in southern Alaska that depend on high elevation snowpack (e.g., above ~3000 feet) for their water supply. These communities are more vulnerable to low snow years and shortages in snow for community water. At the May LEO Network Webinar, John Warren will present on the topic of snow pack, climate change and community water supply.