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| quote: | Lack of Sierra snow won't cause water crisis -- this year
Glen Martin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, February 2, 2007
(02-02) 15:02 PST -- It's a gorgeous day in the Sierra, with blue skies and balmy temperatures -- and that means bad news for California.
Snow surveys taken this morning by state Department of Water Resources staffers at four spots in the mountains showed the water content of the snowpack is about 40 percent of average for this time of year.
Just 23 inches of snow were on the ground at the Phillips survey site, elevation 6,800 feet, about 15 miles southwest of Lake Tahoe along Highway 50.
What's worse, the officials say, is that it seems unlikely the state can play catch-up with its primary water source.
"This late in the year; it's very difficult to make up the difference,'' said Dave Hart, field activity coordinator for Department of Water Resources. "We need at least double the precipitation we usually get between now and April to end up anywhere near normal.''
Still, not to worry, officials said -- at least for this year.
Most state reservoirs are filled above average because last year was so wet, said Arthur Hinojosa, chief of the department's hydrology branch.
But if the dry spell lasts until next year, the state could find itself in a critical water supply bind.
"That would put some real potential stress on the system,'' said Frank Gehrke, the agency's snow survey chief. "We'd be looking at problems.''
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man it better rain soon :\ |
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