Moisture content in the Black Hills snow pack is running a little higher than last year but is well below the average for the past 30 years, continuing the drought trend that began early this decade.

Moisture content of the snow at seven locations measured Jan. 1 averaged about 15 percent, compared with the 18 percent to 20 percent typical for the Jan. 1 readings, according to Keith Culver, district conservationist at the U.S. Natural Resources and Conservation Service office in Newcastle, Wyo.

Six of the seven locations measured averaged 62 percent of the 30-year average moisture content for a Jan. 1 measurement.

Snow depths ranged from 14.6 inches at Mount Tom, north of Newcastle, to 6.7 inches at Ditch Creek in southern Pennington County.

Mount Tom also had the best moisture content, 1.8 inches, which was 95 percent of the 30-year average of 1.9 inches for Jan. 1 and well above last year's half inch of moisture.

Ditch Creek's snow had 0.8 inch of moisture, just above last year's 0.7 inch. No 30-year average was available.

The North Rapid Creek station, in south-central Lawrence County, had 11.2 inches of snow, with a moisture content of 2.6 inches, 79 percent of the 30-year average of 3.3 inches and above last year's 2 inches.

Measurements at other stations included:

* Mallo, with 12.5 inches of snow and 1.5 inches of moisture, 52 percent of the 30-year average. Last year, Mallo had 1.6 inches of snow water.

* Blind Park, 11.7 inches of snow with 1.8 inches of water, 51 percent of average. Last year's moisture: 0.9 inch.

* Cole Canyon, 10.2 inches of snow with 1.4 inches of moisture, 42 percent of average. Last year's moisture: 1.1 inches.

* Little Bear Run, 8 inches of snow with 1.2 inches of moisture, 71 percent of average.

Although the measurements are all below average, November through Jan. 1 is typically dry in the Black Hills, with most snowfall coming in February, March and April, said Chad Ostenson, soil conservationist with the NRCS in Newcastle.

"Our main snow water and snow pack is a lot more critical here in the next six to eight weeks," Ostenson said.

At the end of January, February, March and April, the NRCS also will measure snow pack at Bearlodge Divide, Reuter Canyon and Upper Spearfish.

Contact Steve Miller at 394-8417 or steve.miller@rapidcityjournal.com