LOCAL
BAKER CITY HERALD • THuRsDAY, ApRIL 7, 2022 A3
N.E. Oregon Snowpack Report
Measuring Site
Elevation
Snow Water Equivalent (inches)
Now
Average
% of avg.
Last year
Snow
Depth
Aneroid Lake
Anthony Lakes
Barney Creek
Beaver Reservoir
Bourne
Eilertson Meadow
Gold Center
High Ridge
Little Alps
Little Antone
Moss Springs
Mount Howard
Schneider Meadow
Taylor Green
Tipton
7,300
7,125
5,830
5,150
5,800
5,440
5,340
4,980
6,300
4,560
5,850
7,910
5,400
5,740
5,150
13.8
19.5
2.6
5.9
4.9
4.5
4.4
17.8
6.8
2.4
18.4
12.9
18.1
7.8
5.5
22.6
27.7
9.4
9.6
13.6
6.4
4.6
24.0
13.4
6.4
24.2
15.4
24.8
19.3
11.2
66%
70%
28%
61%
36%
70%
96%
74%
51%
38%
76%
84%
73%
40%
49%
21.2
28.2
11.4
15.7
15.3
10.7
12.6
35.2
13.6
8.6
30.4
13.6
31.0
27.7
13.8
41
49
6
16
10
10
2
41
21
6
42
34
42
15
18
W. Eagle Meadow
Wolf Creek
AVERAGE
5,500
5,630
16.0
7.9
27.6
16.0
58%
49%
60%
29.7
17.1
34
30
Source: U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service
Snowpack
Continued from Page A1
The individual sites ranged
from 96% of average at Gold
Center, near Granite, to just
28% of average at Barney
Creek, near the South Fork of
the Burnt River southwest of
Unity.
Overall, the water content
was 60% of average.
That’s a disturbing statistic
for irrigation officials such as
Doug Birdsall.
He manages the Powder
Valley Water Control District,
which supplies water from two
reservoirs — Pilcher Creek
and Wolf Creek — to farms
and ranches in the North Pow-
der area.
“We’re concerned,” Birdsall
said on Tuesday, April 5. “It’s
not looking real good. The res-
ervoirs are pretty low and the
snowpack is pretty low.”
Pilcher Creek Reservoir,
which can supply water to
Wolf Creek, was holding about
36% of its capacity, while Wolf
Creek was at 18%.
“That’s real low for this time
of year,” Birdsall said.
The abnormally dry March,
besides contributing to the
shrinking snowpack, also
means fledgling crops need
irrigation water earlier than
usual.
Rainfall during March at
the Baker City Airport totaled
a meager 0.28 of an inch —
barely a third of average.
Birdsall said he started sup-
plying irrigation water on
Wednesday, April 6. That’s
about a week earlier than last
year, which itself was drier
than usual.
Although it’s too early to
predict with great accuracy
whether either or both of the
reservoirs in his district will
fill this spring, Birdsall said
“it’s not looking likely at this
point.”
Birdsall’s colleague, Wes
Morgan, is also reluctant to
forecast water supplies con-
sidering the many factors in-
volved, including something
as infamously unpredictable
as weather.
Morgan manages the Burnt
River Irrigation District in
southern Baker County.
His district’s lone reservoir,
Unity, is in rather better shape
than Birdsall’s, at 67% of ca-
pacity on Tuesday, April 5.
But that statistic isn’t
enough to convince Morgan
to issue bold proclamations.
“I’m not confident by any
means that it will fill,” Morgan
said of Unity Reservoir.
One reason is the afore-
mentioned water content in
the snow at Barney Creek.
Morgan measures the snow
there, and he wasn’t pleased to
calculate that the water con-
tent had plummeted from 7.4
inches at the start of March to
2.6 inches at month’s end.
Barney Creek is in the
South Fork Burnt River drain-
age, which includes the high-
est mountains in the irrigation
district and, as one of the last
places to hold snow as spring
progresses, is an important
source of water for later in the
spring and into summer.
Morgan points out that the
current situation, with the
snowpack at 28% of average,
isn’t the worst he’s seen.
In 2015 there was no snow
to measure at Barney Creek at
the end of March.
Holding out hope for
spring rain
Ralph Morgan slipped into
his muck boots before start-
“It’s not looking good, that’s for sure.
Unless we get some rain it’s going to be a
poor year, that’s the way it looks to me.”
— Ralph Morgan, Baker County cattle rancher
County declares drought emergency
Baker County commissioners on Wednesday, April 6, approved a
resolution declaring a drought disaster in the county and asking Gov.
Kate Brown and federal officials to follow suit.
Commissioners passed the resolution one day shy of one year
since they approved a nearly identical document, on April 7, 2021.
State and federal drought declarations could make county prop-
erty owners eligible for financial aid and other assistance, and give
state water regulators more flexibility in allocating water.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 84% of Baker County is in
extreme drought, the second most severe in a four-level rating sys-
tem, behind only exceptional drought.
A year ago, just 16% of the county was in extreme drought.
other crops need.
creased during the month from
But it’s a generosity that
“A bad combination,” he
17.7 inches to 19.5.
ranchers and irrigation offi-
said.
In March 2021, by contrast,
cials don’t appreciate.
ing his ranch work on Monday
the gain was much greater —
Ralph Morgan said the
The most obvious, of course,
morning, April 4.
Lower elevation snow receding from 22.7 inches to 28.2.
Monday cold front that con-
is by keeping the soil moist
Turns out he needn’t have
Although March can bring
At Moss Springs, the water
vinced him to put on water-
when plants are beginning to
bothered with the boots.
grow, giving crops a solid start. proof boots was an example of snow to even the lower valleys content rose this March from
Morgan, who runs his cat-
of Baker County, the month
17.7 inches to 18.4. Last March
And if enough rain falls, he the persistent trends.
tle herd near Baker City, said
typically builds the snowpack
the monthly increase was from
The scanty rain showers
said, farmers and ranchers can
his choice of footwear was
26.6 inches to 30.4.
were propelled by wind gusts primarily at higher elevations
get by without calling for any
prompted by a forecast for rain. water, or at least much less wa- that exceeded 50 mph in sev- in the Elkhorn and Wallowa
The difference between this
And although showers did
mountains.
March and last, though, was
eral places.
ter, from reservoirs. That al-
fall, the amounts, he said, were lows irrigation districts to hold
That trend is reflected even much more dramatic at low-
That wind quickly evapo-
rates most of what little mois- in the generally dismal snow-
er-elevation measuring sta-
scarcely sufficient to dampen
more water for release in the
ture accompanied the storm,
pack numbers for this March. tions. Several of those had in-
the ground, much less leave
summer, when rain is much
creases during March 2021, but
he said.
Of the four measuring sites
him slogging through puddles. less likely.
the opposite this year.
The storm also ushered in
where the water content in-
Morgan said the rain gauge
“Rain would help a bunch,”
At Schneider Meadow, for
much colder air, with tem-
creased during March, three
at his home along the Powder Birdsall said.
instance, in the southern Wal-
peratures plunging into the
are above 7,000 feet — An-
River southwest of Baker City
Hoping for storms isn’t far-
lowas north of Halfway, the wa-
20s the mornings of Tues-
thony Lakes, 7,125 feet, and
showed .12 of an inch.
fetched in Baker County.
ter content this March dropped
day, April 5, and Wednesday, two stations in the Wallowas,
Another gauge, in Bowen
Historically, spring is the
April 6.
Aneroid Lake at 7,300 feet, and from 19.1 inches to 18.1.
Valley just south of town,
wettest season here.
With such chilly tempera-
Mount Howard, near Wallowa Schneider Meadow, although
picked up half that much.
At the Baker City Airport,
its elevation is a modest 5,400
tures, a layer of ice forms on
Lake, at 7,910 feet.
Morgan said there’s only
May has the highest average
feet, often is one of the snowier
the ground surface, which pre-
The fourth site is Moss
patchy snow left at lower ele-
rainfall, at 1.42 inches, while
sites in the region, as the south-
vents the water from soaking Springs in the western Wal-
vations, so he doesn’t expect a June ranks second, at 1.26
ern Wallowas are a focal point
into the soil, Wes Morgan said. lowas, which is at 5,850 feet.
significant runoff into streams inches. April’s average is 0.79.
for winter storms.
Worse still, the wind dissi-
None of the four posted a
this spring.
Combined, those three months
Last March was more typical,
significant boost in snowpack
The only potential savior,
account for 35% of the annual pates that moisture.
as the water content at Schnei-
The result, he said, is soil
during March, however.
then, is a series of soggy spring precipitation at the airport,
der Meadow rose from 29.5
that’s dry and cold, the precise
At Anthony Lakes, for in-
storms.
where records date to 1943.
inches to 31 inches.
opposite of what alfalfa and
stance, the water content in-
“It’s not looking good, that’s
Lots of wind, little rain
for sure,” Morgan said on
The relatively few storms
Tuesday, April 5. “Unless we
that have swept through
get some rain it’s going to be
Karen Carnes Inman
Baker County since early in
a poor year, that’s the way it
September 16, 1938 - A[pril 21, 2022
the winter have been stingy
looks to me.”
Karen Carnes Inman, age 83, died while raising a family: Myrtle Beach, SC,
Birdsall said spring rains can with their moisture, but quite
generous with their wind.
help in two main ways.
peacefully on Monday, April 21, 2022, Ramstein AFB in Germany, where their
at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after third daughter, Jill, was born, Columbus,
bravely fighting a brain tumor for over OH where their fourth daughter, Marla
Jean Ann (Conrad) Miller
was born. They finally
four years. On Wednesday,
March 1926 - January 2022
settled in Tallahassee, FL, in
April 6, 2022, a funeral
Jean Ann Miller
1984, where Roger began a
service
was
held
at
Culley’s
Jean Ann Conrad was born at
new career with the Florida
MeadowWood
Funeral
home on the family ranch in Imbler,
Department of Agriculture.
Home
(1737
Riggins
Rd,
Oregon, to Charles (Todd) and
Karen enjoyed traveling,
Tallahassee,
FL
32308).
Pearl Conrad. She graduated from
RVing,
fishing, cooking,
There
will
be
a
graveside
Imbler High School in 1943 and
birding,
sewing,
gardening,
service
on
Saturday,
April
9,
received awards for all-around girl
and
spending
time
with her
2022,
at
11
a.m.
at
Mount
and drama at graduation. During
family.
She
volunteered
for
Hope
Cemetery
in
Baker
her school years starting at age 9
many
organizations
such
as
City
(1012
S
Bridge
St,
Jean Ann raised award-winning
Girl
Scouts,
the
children’s
Baker
City,
OR
97814),
4-H steers. She showed the steers in March 1926 – January 2022
schools, and various Air
where she will be laid to
Union County and at the Pacific International
Livestock
Jean Ann Conrad was
born at home on the family ranch in Imbler, Oregon to
Force
organizations. In
next
Charles (Todd) and Pearl Conrad. She graduated from Imbler rest
High School
in 1943 to her husband of
show in Portland. In 1939 she had the
Grand
and received
awards Champion
for all around girl and drama at graduation. During her
Tallahassee,
she enjoyed
years,
Col.
Roger
Inman.
school years starting at age 9 Jean Ann raised award winning 48
4-H steers.
She
steer in the open division, which sold
for
$.60
a pound,
showed
the steers
in Union
County and at the Pacific International Livestock show
volunteering
as
a
tax
consultant
at a senior
Rev.
Aletha
Bonebrake
of
St.
Stephen’s
in Portland. In 1939 she had the Grand Champion steer in the
open division
the most ever at that time.
which sold for $.60 a pound, the most ever at that time.
center,
a
voting
poll
coordinator,
positions
Episcopal
Church
will
officiate.
During high school she met Edmond Miller from nearby Cove
at a dance in
During high school Jean Ann met
Edmond
Miller
LaGrande.
After her graduation,
they eloped to Boise, Idaho. They were married
in
the
Retired
Officers
Wives
Club
and
Karen
born
in
Baker,
Oregon,
for 74 years before his death in 2017. Jean Ann followed Ed to various
states and was
from nearby Cove at a dance in La Europe
Grande.
After
her During those years Jan Ann worked at
while he served
in the Air Force.
the
Antebellum
Statehood
Crewe
in
on
September
16,
1938,
the
daughter
of
various jobs including a dentist office, and department stores
in several
cities.
graduation, they eloped to Boise, After
Idaho.
were
the war they They
returned to Oregon
and lived in Corvallis, Cove, LaGrande,
Springtime
Tallahassee.
She
enjoyed
being
Kenneth
Donald
Carnes
and
Virginia
Huntington, Lake Oswego, and Beaverton. Jean Ann was a homemaker
and
married for 74 years before his death
in She
2017.
Jean
mother to three.
volunteered
for years at the Lake Oswego Senior
Carnes (Carlson). The family moved to a member of the FSU University Musical
Ann followed Ed to various states and Europe while he
Portland, OR in 1941 during WWII, then Associates and the Theater Patrons with
served in the Air Force. During those years she worked
returned to Baker, where Judy and Karen Roger and friends.
at various jobs including a dentist office and department
Karen is survived by her sister, Judy
graduated from Baker High School.
stores in several cities.
Brookhart
and her husband, Bob Heriza
Karen
was
active
in
many
high
school
After the war they returned to Oregon and lived in
of
Baker
City,
OR; her four daughters
activities.
TriHiY,
Thespians,
and
Rainbow
Corvallis, Cove, La Grande, Huntington, Lake Oswego
and
their
spouses:
Ann and Eric Gaylord
Girls
are
a
few.
She
was
selected
for
the
and Beaverton. Jean Ann was a homemaker and mother
of
Huntington
Beach,
CA; Amy and Bill
National
Honor
Society,
graduating
at
the
to three. She volunteered for years at the Lake Oswego
Demins
of
Winter
Park,
FL; Jill Marie
top
of
her
class
in
1956.
Karen
then
went
to
Senior Community Center and later for more than 25
Inman
and
Ken
Ryan
of
Leesburg, VA;
Portland,
where
she
received
an
RN
degree
years at the Beaverton School District’s Continuing
Marla
and
Brian
Blair
of
Tallahassee,
her
at
Good
Samaritan
Hospital
Nursing
Education for Young Parents child care facility.
sister-in-law
(and
traveling
companion),
School
in
1959.
Karen
then
worked
as
a
Survivors include her daughter, Jody (Kip Leonard);
Jody Inman of Anacortes, WA. She is
surgical nurse.
sons, Jeff (Laura) and Mark (Jennifer Moffatt);
also survived by her seven grandchildren:
She
married
her
high
school
sweetheart,
grandchildren, Ross Miller, Reed Miller (Emily), Nick
Megan and Ryan Gaylord, Robert and
Roger
Inman,
in
June
1960
at
St.
David’s
Leonard (Caroline Lafferty), JJ Miller (Abby), Annie
Benjamin Landerman, Julia and Keith
Episcopal
Church
in
Portland.
Roger
was
Miller, Connor Kelley and Jack Kelley; two great-
Inman-Ryan, Sydney Blair, and her two
attending
veterinary
school
at
Washington
grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Jean Ann
nieces: Janet Sutton (Inman) and Stephanie
State,
and
they
lived
in
college
housing
in
was predeceased by her three siblings: Clifford Conrad,
Brookhart, and her two nephews: Scott
Pullman,
WA.
Here
they
became
parents
June Van Blokland and Wes Conrad.
Brookhart and Craig Brookhart.
of
twin
girls
(Ann
and
Amy)
in
1962.
Jean Ann’s and Ed’s remains will be interred at
To leave an online condolence for
Roger
earned
his
DVM
degree
in
1963
the Summerville Cemetery near Imbler. The family
the
family of Karen, please visit www.
and
immediately
entered
the
Air
Force,
is grateful for the care provided by Hearthstone at
grayswestco.com
where
they
began
their
many
adventures
Murrayhill and Hospice during Jean Ann’s final days.
of traveling and living in many places