Sierra Snowpack Below Normal; Driest Year on Record

[Auggie]

California has officially shattered an all-time record for the driest January and February in the northern Sierra since record-keeping began in 1921. This year, the area has received only 2.3 inches of precipitation.

The northern Sierra is crucial in providing statewide water supplies because snow melt fills reservoirs. But Thursday's snowpack readings show water content at only 66 percent of normal for the date.

That has farmers in the Central Valley worried. Paul Wenger is President of the California Farm Bureau.

"It's going to have some dire effects for those folks in the Central Valley that were thinking that they were going to be able to plant, especially some of the annual crops that now won't be planted because they're going to try to save that water for the perennial crops, the trees and the vines and the other things that are already in the ground," said Wenger.

MORE: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/feb/28/sierra-snowpack-below-normal-driest-year-record/

This is not good news

[FirstLight]

1. well

a changing climate will mean that WATER is the new oil... unfortunately

I live here at Lake Tahoe, and yes, it is dry just like last winter. I have been here 20 years and seen some narly drought. This is not to crucial point yet,if they decide to open up the spillway and let more lake water down the american river, then you know they are desperate.

[Jacoby365]

2. That article is an interesting analysis

considering precipitation for the northern Sierra water year is above average as of February 28th. November and December were way above average, leaving the total precipitation for the water year at 35.2 inches as of Feb. 28th, while the average is 34.7 inches. The resevoirs are full, which is good news. I guess it is the snowpack that makes a difference farther into the year. But the season isn't over yet, so that is the good news. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/8-Stations_Tab.pdf