Storm systems last week left much of Arizona’s high country blanketed with snow. All the snow the high country received last week is beautiful, but it plays a bigger role than just that.

By measuring the snowpack, it will help identify how much water will flow into the Valley’s reservoirs and if SRP needs to start thinking about water conservation.

After a short hike and a few different measurements, Zachary Keller, a SRP field hydrologist, has a better understanding of our state’s water supply.

“We’re sitting about medium which is actually really good when you think about how little snow we’ve had this year, and it also gives strength to the resiliency of our watershed,” Keller said.

This is one of many measurements they are conducting from the ground and from the air. He said the snow fallen here will trickle down into the Valley’s reservoirs.

“Water that falls here will eventually make its way down to Dry Beaver Creek and then down to the Verse River and then into our reservoir system for 2.5 million people to use,” Keller said.

The past two winters have been well below average. However, Keller said late rain in the fall is helping with moisture now because the soil is already hydrated.

“These storms we’re seeing today are going to have a good chance of running off and getting to our reservoirs and not being stored up here in the watershed or taken up in other ways,” he said.

Temperatures in the High Country this week are returning to well above normal with no snow in the forecast.

Keller said SRP will be prepared to move and reserve water where needed, but now is not yet the time to panic.

“My message to the Valley is that our watershed is very resilient and we might live in the desert,” Keller said. “But we are actually quite a bit productive watershed and have a very good handle on it.”

The High Country gets most of its snow from January to March, so there’s still time to bolster the snowpack.