Heavy snowfall may help West's drought

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The heaviest snowfall in 10 years may turn out to be a blessing should it become relief for the drought-stricken Western United States.

Figures released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that in some areas of the West snowpack levels are as high as 180 percent above average this year, USA Today reported Monday.

Snow survey supervisor Mike Gillespie of the department's Natural Resources Conservation Service, says while the heavy snow may not mean an end to the drought, it does mean water supplies will be abundant this summer.

In Colorado officials are predicting that once the snow melts there will be a 50-foot rise in Lake Powell, one of two reservoirs along the Colorado River.

The worst drought in a century has hit hardest in a region surrounding the Colorado River Basin, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Hydrologist Paul Davidson, of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, however, warns a late-winter warm-up could easily cancel out the gains made so far.