Water Cycle on a Watershed in the Palouse Region of Idaho

The distribution of water in the hydrologic cycle within the Palouse region of Idaho is becoming a concern of the people in the region. A few investigations have been made to determine the distribution of water, but most of these have come up with only very rough estimates. During the 1969-70 water-year a rough water balance was made. It was determined that 25 inches of total precipitation was distributed 20% to runoff, 64% to evapotranspiration, and 16% to deep percolation. Some of the data used in this water balance were estimated or transposed rather than directly measured at the watershed. For this reason, the results obtained are considered an approximation of the distribution of water. During the 1970-71 water-year a better water balance was made. It was found that 27. 5 inches of total precipitation was distributed 23% to surface runoff, 56% to evapotranspiration, 18 1/2% to deep percolation, and 2 1/2% to an increase in soil moisture. All of these values are based on data collected at the watershed and are, therefore, considered a good representation of the distribution of water at the watershed