How bad is this winter?

[BrianMaguire]

I am getting worried about the deer and elk in the cascades. In the Clackamas river valley the deer and elk winter in the valley which is 2500 ft. and I find sheds up to 3200 ft. Anyway I was checking the Peavine ridge weather station in the Clack which is at 3400 ft and there are 92" of snow on the ground, yes 92" at 3400 ft. Nearly 8ft! The snow hit early, low and simply has not gone away. Years like this can clear out an entire valley.

85" two days ago at Marrion forks which is 2600 ft. I don't see how deer and elk can make it in that.


You can check out other sites from this web link
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Oregon/oregon.html

[stlhdr1]

I was pondering the same thought over the last 2 days....

I know Trout Lake Washington had nearly 6ft 4 days ago and I'm sure it's snowed a bit more since then.

My assumption would be that the animals when pressured by snow would keep migrating lower and lower in elevation.

Keith

[cascadebull]

I too was thinking the same thing after watching the news about the towns of Detroit and Idanha having some record snow, they are right around 2000'. The animals must be piled up right down by the clack. Maybe somebody here has gone up that way will chime in. I dont usually go up there this time of year and play around when the animals are just trying to survive the elements.

We just went up to hood to Nanich lodge for cub scouts and where you usually go in the door level, this year snow is about 8' to 10' above the door.

[sliverpicker]

I'm going to drive up the river one day this week. Should be plowed out to Ripplebrook since there's houses up there. I'll take a few pics when I'm up there.

[Chug]

Good link. thank you.

Photo's of the snow pack up that way will be good. will give folks a idea how deep it really is. Hope it melts slowly...

IF you live in a low land area, Better Think about flooding Prep your area for high water.

[TheRogue]

As long as we stay away from a thick layer of ice buildup on top of the snow, the animals can continue to move lower, and/or dig through through the snow for feed.

If we get a big melt/freeze, or freezing rain that creates a thick layer of ice, the animals will be in big trouble.

TR

[sliverpicker]

I was over at White River last Saturday. Although the snow is getting deep, it's not crusted over and the animals I saw were looking good and could move around fine.

We have a lot of snow (14-15") here at our place, we're at 1300' east of Sandy. Oh, and it's snowing again this morning!

I'm dreaming of something warmer, greener, and feathered...

[retaliate]

Yeah! I know what your saying, Sun I had to drive up to a Radio site to fix a circuit for EWEB, a few miles before I got to EWEB at aprox 2000' ele, ther were 3 Deer running down the Highway with a 4' Snow wall on each side, they were using the Highway for easier travel I guess, it looked like they were heading down looking for better conditions, but when I approached they turned & ran back up, & it took a mile or so before they could get over the Snow wall, I felt sorry for them, but what can you do? there was 6' of Snow at the Radio site at 2800', the most Iv'e ever seen there. Hopefully this Warming trend will be just enough to improve conditions for the Animals, but not so fast we get bad floods.

[Cornbread]

I was up at Ripplebrook on Jan 26th and there was only ankle deep snow in clearer areas and under the trees almost nothing. The day after that is when the snow really started dumping down and we got like 13" down here in Sandy on my end of Sandy which is a bit lower in altitude than where sliverpicker lives. So if there is a ton of snow up there the deer have only been having to deal with it since Jan 27th up until then there wasn't any snow to speak of off the pipeline road from Three Lynx to Ripplebrook.

[dla]

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

I
85" two days ago at Marrion forks which is 2600 ft. I don't see how deer and elk can make it in that.

I kindof doubt you'll find any tracks in snow like that. Bambi's move to areas of less snow. If we get a melt followed by a deep freeze then the ice over the snow could cause problems. Unless there's no feed in the lower, less snow areas, the animals should be OK.

[Rank Amateur]

Deer use a lot of energy trying to dig out food, deep snow like that is a killer. They pretty much are on a starvation diet in the winter anyhow, anything that makes them use up unusual energy will kill them off. I think there is a lot of difference between eastern oregon and westside, they get more dry and wind blown snow, this stuff on our side is wet and heavy. We don't get the wind swept ridges ect. I guess we will know in a couple of months.

[Rank Amateur]

Look at the south Saddle site in the north coast range. 3100 foot, 87 inches of snow, 30 inches of water content!!!!!!! That is just crazy. The snow around town is starting to break up, but they are predicting more snow for tonight for us.

The snowtel just to the south at 2000 feet has 24 inches of snow and 6 inches of water content.

[ehunter]

It is suppose to warm up some this weekend as well. With any heavy rain that could spell trouble how does the river look out there?

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Look at the south Saddle site in the north coast range. 3100 foot, 87 inches of snow, 30 inches of water content!!!!!!! That is just crazy. The snow around town is starting to break up, but they are predicting more snow for tonight for us.

The snowtel just to the south at 2000 feet has 24 inches of snow and 6 inches of water content.

[ehunter]

With any heavy rain that could spell trouble how does the river look out there? I heard that the coast range is like 500% above normal? I agree the snow over here is wet and sluggish. On one hand you want it to thaw soon but we don't want flooding either. I bet the roads out there are a mess on any Timber company lands it may take them all summer to clean up with down trees and water damage.

[dla]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Look at the south Saddle site in the north coast range. 3100 foot, 87 inches of snow, 30 inches of water content!!!!!!! That is just crazy. The snow around town is starting to break up, but they are predicting more snow for tonight for us.

The snowtel just to the south at 2000 feet has 24 inches of snow and 6 inches of water content.

7 foot of snow on Saddle Mountain?? Does somebody go up there and measure it?

Unless there's a Pineapple express coming in, flooding won't be an issue. The snow doesn't melt that fast by itself.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by dla

7 foot of snow on Saddle Mountain?? Does somebody go up there and measure it?.

These are automated monitoring sites. Click the link I provided up above.

[Old Coot]

I think that for a large area of the Cascades west slope this winter is going to be remembered for thirty years as the winter that darned near wiped out our herds.

It is true that deer and elk can migrate to lower altitudes, but once the snow gets belly-deep, they are effectively marooned. Further migration is out of the question. Right now as low as 1500 feet snow is well over belly deep on elk and over the heads of deer. It is too deep to paw through for feed, and too deep to wade. Hoofed animals just punch through whatever surface crust there is, while predators with a broader footprint can travel with more ease.

I'm afraid the results are going to be ugly.

Further up, the snow depth is amazing. The last reading I got from Salt Creek Falls on the Willamette Pass before the guage went off line was 173 inches.

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by Old Coot

I think that for a large area of the Cascades west slope this winter is going to be remembered for thirty years as the winter that darned near wiped out our herds.
.

I have a sick feeling you are right. The clackamas canyon gets too narrow to get out of the upper basin down towards ripplebrook. This is why those old forests are so important, its the only chance to get feed and a reprieve from the snow. But with 6+ ft its going to be tough.

[baltz526]

it was melting today, with rain. now it will freeze and crust over

[Tar Heel]

Man, that sounds grim Are farmers or the state trying to get any feed to some of the herds? Is there time to act? I bet there are a lot of hunters and farmers who would be willing to try to get cash and some feed out there. Seems that I recall them doing that in Colorado in big snow years. The bright side, lots of local ducks and geese. I bet the chuckars and pheasant numbers will be down too.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by ehunter

It is suppose to warm up some this weekend as well. With any heavy rain that could spell trouble how does the river look out there?

The Nehalem is still fine, the snow is coming off slow. The water content is really building up though, the local snow is now like a slushy. I see last night both the snowtel sites in the north coast range added snow and water content. Just as long as we don't get one of those orient expresses we might be ok.

[ehunter]

Rank one of my concerns is any deer with HLS might have a even tougher time and with the deer numbers in the tank this winter might push them over the edge. thank goodness for reprod uh!!

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

The Nehalem is still fine, the snow is coming off slow. The water content is really building up though, the local snow is now like a slushy. I see last night both the snowtel sites in the north coast range added snow and water content. Just as long as we don't get one of those orient expresses we might be ok.

[baltz526]

my dogs are running around on top of the snow this morning

[retaliate]

[quote=Old Coot;1860269]I think that for a large area of the Cascades west slope this winter is going to be remembered for thirty years as the winter that darned near wiped out our herds.

I don't think we should hit the Panic button...yet, most of the lower level Snow fell this past week, & is melting slowly now, if too much Snow stays for too long at lower levels, than yeah! it won't be good for the Deer, Elk are more apt to survive cause of their size, & strength, some Elk even use high Snow packs like a ladder to get to the Moss they can't reach otherwise, I'm staying optimistic...for now.

[ehunter]

Yep this is a coyote version of heaven they can hunt fast on the snow and the deer and antelope can't out run them.

Originally Posted by baltz526

my dogs are running around on top of the snow this morning

[Rank Amateur]

It was snowing hard when I came home tonight over Clatskanie Mt., I think the pass is 1,100 feet. I would guess the snow level at 800 feet.

[sliverpicker]

It's snowing here at our house again tonight! 1300' east of Sandy

[BrianMaguire]

Clackamas lake @ 3400 ft went from 42" on 1/27 to 86" on 2/1 = 44" in 5 days and then the monitoring station stopped reading depth.

[retaliate]

A little warmer the last couple day's around here(Eugene area), & expected to warm up a bit more tomorrow, before cooling slightly again next week, so far so good on the slow melt off, hopefully enough/in time to help the Deer.