As spring ushers in, California’s mountain snowpack is nearly at its average level, and an upcoming winter storm in the Sierra Nevada is set to provide a further boost.
On Friday, the statewide snowpack was measured at 90% of the average just as the April 1 peak is anticipated. This marks the point before the snow begins to melt more rapidly than it accumulates, causing water to flow into creeks and streams as spring storms dwindle, explained Andy Reising, who manages snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the Department of Water Resources.
“Ninety percent is really pretty good. I’m feeling generally positive,” Reising commented while snow gently fell at Phillips Station in the state’s mountainous eastern region, one of over 250 measurement locations.
This development coincides with a forecast of additional storms expected to bring more precipitation to Northern California early in the following week. This forecast prompted officials to hasten the snow survey to avoid hazardous travel conditions. Currently, nearly all California’s reservoirs stand above their historical averages, thanks to two consecutive wet winters that followed an intense drought period, which had necessitated drastic reductions in water usage by cities and agricultural sectors.
State officials announced plans to offer an updated survey next week after the expected storm.
About a third of California’s annual water supply stems from the mountain snowpack, crucial for a state home to 39 million residents and a major grower of the nation’s fresh produce. Over the years, California has developed an intricate system of dams and canals designed to capture and store this water in reservoirs for use during the typically hot and dry season when precipitation is scarce.
Despite the abundance of water in Northern and Central California, Reising warned that Southern California, including Los Angeles, has received markedly less precipitation than usual. Current reports from the U.S. Drought Monitor indicate that most of Southern California is once again experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions.
“We know floods and droughts can happen at any time. It is the California way of life to expect that,” Reising noted.
Measurements at Phillips Station indicated a snow depth of 39.5 inches (100 centimeters) with a water content of 17 inches (43 centimeters), representing 70% of the typical average for that location, according to Reising.
The Trump administration has focused notably on California’s water issues, promising to channel more water through its federally-operated network to state farmers while reducing allocations for environmental needs. The administration criticized the state’s water management policies, blaming environmental strategies for water shortages amid the Los Angeles wildfires, although these events were not directly linked.
This year’s allocations from California State Water Project are currently at 40% of the requested amounts, mirroring the figures from last year. This Project supports 27 million residents and irrigates 750,000 acres (303,514 hectares) of farmland, with allocations fluctuating significantly between wet and dry years.
Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, argued that California might have been able to release more water this year and advocated for more adaptive decision-making to keep pace with swiftly changing conditions.
“We do have this mismatch between hydrology and the allocation, and what are the different physical and policy changes that need to be made to address that,” Pierre explained.
Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute based in Oakland, pointed out that although the state’s reservoirs are currently in favorable conditions, California farmers inevitably seek more water than the environment naturally supplies.
“We should never let a good water year let us become complacent,” Gleick emphasized. “We never have enough water to waste.”