The state’s April snow-depth survey may have San Joaquin County growers breathing a little easier.
The snowpack statewide is estimated to be “almost normal” — 90% of what’s average for this time of year, the California Department of Water Resources said. The deepest snowpack is farther north in California.
Closer to Stockton, a measurement at a key point in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe last week put the snow depth at 39.5 inches and 17 inches of snow water equivalent — how much water the snowpack contains — which is 70% of normal for this time of year.
At this point, the estimate can only grow in the near term. Officials said the latest round of storms is adding to the snowpack. It’s a shocking turnaround from January, when an unusually dry fall and winter had officials worried about drought.
“It’s great news that our state’s snowpack has recovered from several weeks of extremely dry conditions in the heart of our winter storm season,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said in a statement. “However, it’s not a wet year across the entire Sierra Nevada. The north has great snowpack, but snowpack is less than average in the central and southern part of the mountain range. That snowpack ultimately flows to the Delta.”
The department said it considers the April measurement to be critical. Typically, that is when the snowpack hits its peak before warmer weather begins a gradual melt. The April estimate plays a significant role in determining how much water can be released into aqueducts, reservoirs and rivers, whether it’s to grow food in the valley or water lawns in Los Angeles.
The snowpack supplies about 30% of the state’s water. Already, reservoirs are filled to 115% of their average, the department said.
The latest measurement was taken at Phillips Station, which is off Highway 50 traveling near Lake Tahoe. The department said it takes about four or five surveys at the same spot every season. Workers normally would have taken one Tuesday, but officials said they did so last week to dodge the latest round of storms.
Most of those storms have swept through the northern reaches of the Sierra in California, leading to the deepest snowpack. As a result, Southern California is falling far short of normal. Los Angeles, for instance, is at 59% for the rain season that started Oct. 1, the National Weather Service reports.
By contrast, Stockton has recorded 9.6 inches of rain, or 83% of normal. That’s good, but not as plentiful as this time last year when Stockton was a bit ahead of normal at 102%, the weather service reported.
Statewide, the recent precipitation is already reaping rewards.
Last week, the water resources department said it increased the State Water Project allocation of requested water supplies to 40%, up from 35%. The project is best known for operation of the California Aqueduct, the 444-mile water lifeline to farmers in the Central Valley and cities in Southern California.
One of the state’s largest reservoirs, Lake Oroville, was at 86% of capacity as of last week, well above where it normally would be this time of year. So much water has flowed into the lake that officials have had to order releases to create excess space in case another drenching storm threatens flooding.
“Despite periods of extremely dry conditions this season, water managers have been able to effectively capture, move and store water for use later this year while also maintaining flood protection,” Nemeth said in a statement last week.