To those who live in lower elevations, this has been a winter with much larger amounts than in recent years. But in the mountains, the snow pack levels are similar to what they were one year ago. Scott Oviatt of the Natural Resources Conservation Service says at this time the Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes basins are at 111 percent of their normal snowpack level, and 122 percent in the Upper Deschutes basin. Oviatt says last year a warm spring negated those snow pack numbers. Oviatt adds having more snow at lower elevations helps agricultural operations maintain soil moisture from record precipitation in October.