BY GAIL BINKLY

The soggy storms that have visited the Four Corners in recent weeks have boosted snowpacks as well as water users’ spirits.

"My general impression is I feel pretty good about the levels," said John Porter, general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, on Monday.

"Snotel" reports from four high-elevation snow-measuring devices in the western San Juan Mountains show the average snowpack was 71 percent of normal as of Monday morning, up from a low of 35 percent on Jan. 17.

However, last week’s major storm raised the percentage just slightly — from 70 percent of normal to 71 — because the average is compared to previous years’ snowpacks, and snowfalls are common in February.

"We had a real good storm on Thursday, but normally we always get a storm during the third week in February," Porter explained. "Normally we should be building the snowpack about an inch a week this time of year."

Lake McPhee already had about enough water stored to supply the area’s needs for next year, Porter said, so the fresh snowfalls have made it more likely there will be an ample water supply next summer.

"McPhee had enough water in it for next year without very much runoff," Porter said, "so this almost assures that it will fill.

"We need a 53-percent runoff for it to fill. But the 71-percent snowpack we had this morning doesn’t necessarily means a 70-percent runoff, because a lot can happen."

For instance, if storms quit coming or a persistent wind blows, the snowpack will drop every day, and the situation could change rapidly, Porter said.

The four "high" snotels are located at the following upper-elevation sites:

• The top of Lizard Head Pass;

• On the Meadows south of El Diente on the road between Dunton and Highway 145;

• On the west side of Lone Cone;

• About 5 miles up Scotch Creek toward Rico.

The automated devices transmit radio signals via satellite to Portland, Ore., where the information is downloaded, Porter said.