The snowpack is the accumulation of snow over the winter season which contributes to runoff in the spring and summer thus being available for storage or use. In areas such as Colorado or California dependent on annual runoff for water supplies the amount of snowpack and its water content is regularly monitored and is a matter of public concern. Snowpack measurements facilitate prediction of the amount of available water for agriculture and other uses and can be used for planning regarding what crops to plant and how water should be managed.