California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
According to a recent snowpack survey, California has 83 percent of its annual snowpack. The number, which is considered low, is one of California’s main water supplies.
The amount of snowpack seen – around 58.3 inches – is the most the state has received since March of 2011, suggesting the torrential rain will bypass California.
“Mother Nature is not living up to predictions by some that a ‘Godzilla’ El Nino would produce much more precipitation than usual this winter,” Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Mark Cowin said in a statement. “We need conservation as much as ever.”
The majority of the state’s annual water supply comes from the rain or snow that takes place during the months of December, January and February. The more snowpack there is, the higher the water content, meaning there’s a greater likelihood reservoirs will be recharged.
The DWR tracks eight reservoirs with capacities of 1 million acre-feet or more of water. Currently, all are below average storage levels for this time of year.
