The season’s first snow survey yielded phenomenal results, according to the Department of Water Resources.
Thanks to plenty of snowfall in the Sierra over the past few weeks, the season’s first snow survey suggests there will be plenty of water for California this year.
This is just the first of five snow surveys to be taken once a month through May. But according to Ted Thomas with the California Department of Water Resources, these early results are already good news.
“We’re going to be a lot better than we were during the 2007 – 2009 drought years, that’s for sure," Thomas said. "That’s already in the bank.”
Thomas said there are concerns that with La Nina the water content of the snow might diminish. But he said this month’s initial measurements show there’s 198 percent of long-term average water content now, compared to 85 percent this time last year.
The water that comes from rain and snow fall in the Sierra provides water for two-thirds of California, including 1 million acres of irrigated farmland.
