The precipitation in the Basin is measured at two sites — Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport and by a Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) gauge in the mountains.
Measurements show the Basin is between 72 (snow water equivalent) and 79 percent of normal (measured at airport).
Klamath Falls is classified as being in severe drought and central to northern Klamath County is classified as extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, though an official declaration for drought has not been made for the county.
“What makes it worse is that last year was bad.
So the reservoirs were lowered through the summer quite a bit and we haven’t caught up to near normal in most places.
“If you have two bad years in a row, it especially impacts the reservoirs,” Sandler added.
Stream flows have been below normal in the last month, Sandler said, and the snowpack and precipitation matches that trend.
Sandler said the forecast is subject to change, and emphasized that spring can make a substantial difference in the outcome of the water year.