VIDEO: There are alarming concerns over the low snowpack on Oregon’s mountains.
Experts say it could lead to consequential wildfires and impact Oregon’s farms.
Today’s snowpack is at a historic low since the state began keeping records.
Matt Warbritton, hydrologist with the federal government, says the lack of moisture could result in major wildfires.
We have seen some rain over the past few months, but experts say the snowpack provides moisture in the mountains through the summer and without that, conditions could be much drier.
Warbritton also says this could impact farmers who rely heavily on snowpack.
“Thinking in the Ochoco Mountains and in the Blue Mountains, those areas store most of the water, and it’s being stored as snowpack during the winter that farmers use downstream and in the valleys during the spring and summer,” he said. “So a snowpack, especially in those regions, is particularly detrimental to agricultural production.”
