First Snow Pack Survey: Don't Worry
Danyo
The California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the year, and snow pack is well below average. Officials say it's too early for concern …
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(Reno, NV)
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Traditionally, the first
snow pack survey is not a good indicator of what water reserves will be in the
spring. And that’s good news this year
because snow pack across the Sierra is 41 percent below average. Don Strickland of the Department of Water
Resources isn’t worried.
The last three winters have been quite wet … we have
great reservoir storage right now … our reservoirs are running about 120
percent above normal … so, all things considered, even though the snow survey
looks a bit light right now , there's no cause for alarm yet.
Snow pack data is collected
throughout the winter and enables the State to forecast snow melt runoff. The monthly predictions are used by a wide
variety of agencies, such as public utilities, agricultural interests, and flood
control managers to name a few. Snow
melt accounts for 65 percent of California’s water supply.
Brian Bahouth KXJZ News