NAVAJO MOUNTAIN, UTAH — The Navajo Nation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to install a snow monitoring station on Navajo Mountain.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed the agreement on July 22. The project will improve water supply monitoring and climate data collection in the region.
Known as a SNOTEL site, it will measure snowpack, precipitation, air and soil temperatures, and soil moisture in real-time. It will provide publicly available data to support water management, recreation, and research.
Navajo Mountain in San Juan County, Utah, was chosen because of its high elevation, ideal snow conditions, and existing access by road and helicopter. The site also has strong cell coverage for data transmission.
NRCS will install equipment, including a snow pillow, precipitation gauge, meteorological tower, solar panels, and climate sensors. Installation requires moderate ground leveling and minor trenching over approximately 400 square feet.
The site will be named “Naatsisaan,” the Navajo word for Navajo Mountain.
NRCS will provide, maintain, and operate all equipment.
The Navajo Nation will allow access to the Naastsisaan SNOTEL site and help protect it. NRCS staff may use existing roads and helicopters to access the area with 24-hour notice.
“This project helps us use science to protect our water resources and support our community’s future while using climate data,” President Nygren said.
