Happy New (Water) Year
Trick question? Nope! October 1 marks the official start of the New Water Year.
Solar Winter (learn more here) doesn’t start until early November. Same with the Backcountry Film Festival, the 21st Annual World Premiere is set for November 6th in Boise, ID! The Ski Wax New Year is not a thing as far as we know, but let’s be honest your skis probably need waxing (order some new MountainFLOW Eco wax!). Ice Moon Retrograde and Year of The Reindeer? Completely made up. Sounds cool though right?
October 1, 2025
As cool and wet October weather descends upon many parts of the U.S., it’s been a reminder for many communities that snow is on the way. It’s also the time hydrologists reset the clock on snow and water measurements. In one sense, this is the beginning of a new year.
The Water Year
Sure, you won’t find many seasonal calendars for sale at your local mall that start with October, but from a snow and water perspective the new water year starts on October 1 and runs through September 30.
In the Western U.S., where snow can contribute to as much as 80% of the annual water supply, water managers, snow scientists, hydrologists and farmers have been resetting their annual water count on October 1 for well over 100 years. This is largely due to the natural cycle of snowfall in this region.
As mountain snow begins to fall after October 1, there is a good chance this indicates the snow that will accumulate through the winter and then melt and enter our streams and groundwater later in the year. Calculating water in this way helps water managers understand how much water will be in our streams for both ecological and human uses during the warmer seasons.
Interestingly, in other countries and regions, water year start-dates can vary depending on natural patterns of precipitation. It’s also been suggested by hydrology researchers, that dates and definitions of waters might need to shift to accommodate a changing climate.
The water year is also important at SnowSchool, WWA’s national outdoor education program. During their field trips SnowSchool students analyze the water content of their local snowpack, and back in the classroom the participate in SnowSchool’s Snowpack Prediction Challenge. In this activity the students use historical data to make predictions about what the peak water content of their local snowpack might be this year. All of this helps students better understand the connection between mountains snow and their community’s annual water supply. So as the new water year begins, so too will SnowSchool students be back tracking snow accumulation across America’s incredible winter wildlands!
