NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Snowpack results released Thursday showed that a key California water supply declined over the past month.
The state Department of Water Resources (DWR) said its final snow survey results showed that the critical Sierra Nevada snowpack water content is 66 percent of normal, compared to 72 percent at this time last year.
The numbers from Thursday show a decline from a snowpack measurement conducted earlier in April, when water content was measured at 81 percent.
“Today’s snowpack survey further emphasizes the importance of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s statewide drought emergency declaration and our call on all Californians to reduce their water use,” said DWR Director Lester Snow. “When combined with extremely dry years in 2007 and 2008, low storage in the state’s major reservoirs, restrictions on Delta pumping, a growing population and prediction of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, it is clear the problems facing California will persist beyond this year and this drought.”
Manual survey results taken today at four locations near Lake Tahoe, combined with electronic readings, put snowpack water content at 66 percent of normal in the Northern Sierra, 70 percent in the Central Sierra and 61 percent in the Southern Sierra, the DWR reported.
At the same time, California’s major reservoirs remain low. Lake Oroville, principal storage reservoir for the State Water Project (SWP), registers only 58 percent of capacity.
In Lake County, Clear Lake’s level has declined in recent weeks, measured at 3.96 feet Rumsey, the measure used for the lake, on Thursday. That’s down from 6.67 feet Rumsey measured on April 30, 2008, according to Lake County Water Resources Division records.
Because of the low lake level, the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District – which owns the water right to Clear Lake – will only be able to draw 21,767 acre feet from the lake, down from the 112,978 it was entitled to based on the lake’s level last year.
Yolo Flood, which also controls Indian Valley Reservoir, reports that the reservoir’s storage on Thursday was 48,952 acre feet, down from 101,482 acre feet on the same date last year.
On. Feb. 27 Schwarzenegger declared a drought state of emergency, directing DWR and other state agencies to provide assistance to people and communities impacted by the drought.
Also in February, the Lake County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for voluntary water conservation in county-run water and sewer districts, as Lake County News has reported. The board held another discussion on conservation on April 21, and county officials plan to bring the matter back for further consideration on May 5.
In other parts of the state, DWR reported that local water agencies are updating urban water management plans and DWR is facilitating water transfers through its Drought Water Bank program. The state has made $240 million in bond funding available for water conservation, drought assistance and Integrated Regional Water Management programs. Those funds came from the Pooled Money Investment Board following the successful sale of California infrastructure bonds in March.
DWR and the Association of California Water Agencies launched a statewide public education program on April 21 challenging individuals to do their part to “Save Our Water.” For information about Save Our Water, conservation tips and drought and water shortage information, visit www.saveourH2O.org.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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