NEW YORK, June 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) on Thursday forecast water runoff at The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River in Oregon of 89 percent of normal form January through July, down from 90 percent in a June 21 forecast.
That is well below the actual flow of water through The Dalles from January-July in the 2005-2006 season of 107 percent of the 30-year (1971-2000) normal.
The Dalles is the next-to-last dam on the lower Columbia River and a key point to measure the volume of water available for power generation in the Northwest.
The Northwest region receives about 65 percent of its power supplies from hydroelectric dams.
The Portland, Oregon-based NWRFC is an arm of the National Weather Service (NWS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The following is a table showing recent forecasts and last year's actual runoff in relation to percentage versus the 30-year normal.
| River / | Period | Jun 28 | Jun 21 | pvs year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | pct avg forecast | pct avg forecast | pct avg actual | |
| The Dalles, OR | Jan-Jul | 89% | 90% | 107% |
| Columbia River | Apr-Aug | 86% | 87% | 105% |
| Mica Reservoir, BC | Jan-Jul | 117% | 119% | 104% |
| Columbia River | Feb-Sep | 117% | 119% | 95% |
| Arrow Lakes, BC | Jan-Jul | 112% | 113% | 99% |
| Columbia River | Apr-Sep | 113% | 114% | 91% |
| Grand Coulee Dam, WA | Jan-Jul | 102% | 103% | 106% |
| Columbia River | Apr-Sep | 100% | 101% | 100% |
| Lower Granite, WA | Jan-Jul | 64% | 64% | 107% |
| Snake River | Apr-Sep | 59% | 59% | 113% |
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