ANALYSIS OF THE SNOW PACK AT TWIN VALLEY OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER, LEWIS, NY (2010-2014)

Since 2010, spring hydrology classes at SUNY-Plattsburgh have been monitoring the snow pack at the college’s Twin Valley Outdoor Education Center near Lewis, NY in the Lake Champlain Basin. The field site has both wooded and open areas. The study site has an elevation of about 90 m in a watershed with a southeast aspect.

During the months of February and March for 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 snow cores were collected. No snow cores were collected in 2012 due to a lack of snow. The location for each snow core was determined randomly. PVC pipes with 2 inch (5 cm) inside diameter were used to collect full length vertical snow cores. Snow depth was measured from where the snow core was extracted. The percent water content and water equivalent depth were calculated for each core. Temperature data (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation and atmospheric pressure) were collected from a weather station on site.

Between the years, the snow depth and water equivalent depths were variable. Both snow depths and water equivalent depths were statistically different from the corresponding measurements during consecutive years. Median snow depths ranged between 10 cm and 40 cm. Median water equivalent depths ranged between 2 and 10 cm. However, percent water content decreased during the study period. The median percent water content in 2010 was about 27%, dropping to about 20% in 2014.

Much of the difference in percent water content from year to year can be attributed to changes in percent water content during March. During February, the percent water content remained relatively constant from year to year with a median values around 25%.

Analysis of daily average, maximum and minimum air temperature data shows some variability year to year. However, there doesn’t appear to be changes in air temperature consistent with the changes observed in percent water content in the snow pack.

This study suggests a trend, over several years, that affects the water content of the snow pack. However, there is no impact on the water equivalent depth. The stored water in the snow pack is not changing and affecting the water budget of the watershed.