With the state’s second snow survey of the season slated for Wednesday, Feb. 1, water managers are keeping a watchful eye on conditions as they plan for the 2012 water year.
The Department of Water Resources’ first snow survey, conducted Jan. 3 of this year, showed one of the driest snowpacks on record for the date, with snow water content at just 19% of average. In contrast, the state’s first snow survey for 2011, held Dec. 28, 2010, showed California’s mountain snowpack to be 198% of normal for that date.
Despite marginal precipitation thus far in 2012, the final snow-water content statewide for 2011 was a near-record 152% of the seasonal average. As a result, carryover storage for both state and federal reservoirs is at average or above-average levels.
DWR’s Lake Oroville in Butte County is at 72% of its capacity, or 107% of average for the date, while the federal Lake Shasta north of Redding is 68% full, which is average for this date. San Luis, a reservoir south of the Delta key to both projects, is at 95% capacity, which is 122% of average for the date.
With two more months of California’s traditionally rainy season remaining, state and federal officials remain optimistic that precipitation totals will improve.
The Bureau of Reclamation will make its initial water supply allocation announcement for the Central Valley Project in mid-February.
Real-time water supply conditions and information is available at DWR's new water conditions website [4].