California Has Healthy Mountain Snowpack

This California Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently announced the snowpack statewide is at 144% of seasonal average, and DWR anticipates it can provide 80% of requested State Water Project deliveries in 2011.

“All indications are that we’re moving toward a summer with a good water supply for our farms and cities,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “We must be aware, however, that California can quickly turn from wet to dry and we can’t afford to forget the lessons of conservation we learned in the 2007-2009 drought.”

Most state reservoirs are above average storage levels, as well. DWR said the State Water Project’s main reservoir, Lake Oroville, is now at 112% of average storage, and Lake Shasta, the largest Central Valley Project reservoir, is at 108% of average.

Reservoirs in California fill as a result of melting snowpack, which is typically at its peak water content on April 1. This snowpack is the source of about one-third of the water used in California. The recent snow survey is the last survey for the 2010-2011 water year.

Source: DWR

For more on the state’s 2007-09 drought, including the “Save our Water, Save Our Jobs” petition campaign, click.