Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Snow Brings Relief To Ski Resorts But Snow Survey Dismal

  •  Amy Quinton 
Thursday, January 30, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
 

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

The second snow survey of the winter has found water content statewide at just 12-percent of average for this time of year.

To put it in perspective, statewide records go back to 1960. The lowest water measurement ever was 21-percent in 1991.

Donner Ski Ranch hasn’t been able to open its trails yet. But General Manager Lincoln Kauffman says he remains hopeful.

 “We’ll adapt and overcome and get ready for what’s next. It can be pretty gut-wrenching at times,” Kauffman says.

Andy Wirth is with Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Resorts. He says he’s overjoyed by the snow this week. It will mean more trails will open.

 “This is a snow storm that’s not going to get us but one marker closer towards being better but it’s a great storm," says Wirth. "We have about nine inches of new snow at Alpine Meadows Squaw Valley, in total we think we’ll get about 30 to 35 inches out of this storm.”

The state’s major reservoirs remain low. Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake are at 36-percent of capacity.
Not only was 2013 the driest calendar year on records going back to 1895, but forecasters say this January may go into the books as the driest ever. 

Related Story

Ski Reports Reporting Substantial Snowfall

Officials To Measure Sierra Snowpack

 


Jan 30-edited -2
A snowboarder enjoying the fresh powder at Northstar on Thursday. Rachael Woods/ Northstar California Resort
 

More Environment Stories

  • Courtesy of Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control Distrct

    Aerial Spraying Against Mosquitoes Starts Monday

    July 23, 2018

    Two nights of aerial spraying to reduce the number of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus are scheduled to begin Monday in parts of Elk Grove, the Pocket Neighborhood and neighborhoods south of Fruitridge Road.

  • UC Davis / Courtesy

    Extreme Weather Dropped Lake Tahoe Clarity To Historic Lows In 2017

    June 13, 2018

    If you spent time on the water at Lake Tahoe last year and thought it looked a lot cloudier, you're right. UC Davis researchers say extreme weather — drought followed by heavy rains — caused clarity in 2017 to drop to its lowest recorded level.

  • Bob Moffitt / Capital Public Radio

    A Million Salmon Take A Road Trip Before Getting In The Sacramento River Toward The Pacific

    May 3, 2018

    The fish took a ride in a large truck on Wednesday morning and are now headed down the river on a journey to the ocean.

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    How NASA, Lasers And New Technology Help Measure California’s Snowpack With Exceptional Accuracy

    March 8, 2018

    Using this new approach to calculate the snow’s water content also means improved forecasts for farms and cities, and even positive benefits for renewable-energy production. The program soon could go statewide — if it gets funded.

  • CA Department of Water Resources / Twitter

    Storm Leaves California With Half Of Usual Snow For Year

    March 5, 2018

    (AP) — Monday's snow survey found a "much rosier" picture than before last week's heavy winter storm, but still less than half the usual snow for this point in the season.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

    Related Stories

  • Sierra-at-Tahoe / Courtesy

    Snow A Welcome Sign At Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Area

    Thursday, October 29, 2015
    Sierra-at-Tahoe, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe in Twin Bridges, has received some snow. After four years of drought, Lake Tahoe ski resorts hope it's a sign of a good season to come.

 droughtenvironment

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Photo by Fred Greaves, California Department of Water Resources

State water deliveries to surge — highest in 6 years

January 30, 2023

Austin Robert

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

January 30, 2023

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Q&A: Speaker Anthony Rendon on a budget deficit, gun bills and handing over the gavel

January 31, 2023

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Backed by Newsom, California Democrats revive changes to state concealed carry law

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

California coronavirus updates: Sacramento County COVID-19 transmission level is reduced to low by CDC

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Backed by Newsom, California Democrats revive changes to state concealed carry law

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

California coronavirus updates: Sacramento County COVID-19 transmission level is reduced to low by CDC

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.