The hydrologic year ends with September, and a new one starts on October 1. I guess it’s called the water year – but when I learned about it, I was doing snow surveys, and learned the 75 cent word.
So I’m looking at the annual precipitation records as the year ends. Grave Creek Snotel, at 4,300 feet elevation, shows 63.4 inches of precipitation. Stahl Peak, at 6,030 feet, shows 68.7 inches of precipitation. Banfield Mountain (part way to Libby and at 5,600 feet, shows 41.4 inches of precipitation. I kind of wish we had Snotel at Eureka, Libby and Murphy Lake – but precipitation measurement isn’t funded for an old man who doesn’t even keep his own records.
This map shows the annual precipitation across Montana, from 1961 to 1990:
This map, fairly localized shows that there really is an increase in precipitation as you drive between Stryker and Olney, along with the increased precipitation in the higher areas.
So what the hay – I’ve invested in an electronic station to measure things alongside the pond and garden. The instructions let me think that I could put a receiver in the pumphouse and check the difference in weather at the pond and the hilltop. See the difference that a hundred feet of elevation makes. Unfortunately the closest outdoor set would dominate the receiver – so now I’ll be looking for one that transmits on a different frequency.
Anyway – hydrologically speaking – Happy New Year.
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