NWRFC sees near normal Northwest U.S. hydroflows

The Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC), in its fifth forecast for the 2003-2004 water year, said on Friday the volume of water flowing through the region's dams will be near normal.

The Portland, Oregon-based agency forecast flows through The Dalles dam will average 95 percent of normal from January through July, unchanged from its previous forecast issued on Jan. 15.

The Dalles is the next-to-last dam on the Lower Columbia and a key point for measuring the volume of water available for power generation in the Northwest. The region receives about 65 percent of its power supplies from hydro electric dams.

NWRFC's final projection for the 2002-2003 water year, issued in July, put The Dalles at 83 percent of normal.