Name: Sierra snow pack is 3% of May average: Here's what that means
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Sierra snow pack is 3% of May average: Here's what that means

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State surveyors traveled into the Sierra Nevada mountain range Thursday to conduct the final snow survey of the season and asses the state of the snowpack before it melts into the state's rivers and reservoirs.At Phillips Station off U.S. 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe, they found the snow was 3% of its average for the date. The finding is yet another indicator of this year's dry winter. In contrast, the measurement taken at this spot at this time in 2019 was 188% of average."It's a good example of the extreme variability we have in California," said Chris Orrock, a spokesperson for the California Department of Water Resources.The state has conducted snow surveys at Philips Station since 1941. It's where former Gov. Jerry Brown attended a survey in April 2015 that found a field barren of any measurable snow. Brown later ordered Californians to use less water.The state also monitors daily readings from stations across the entire length of the Sierra and as of Thursday, these show the statewide snowpack is 37% of average, compared to 144% last year. These numbers may sound a little more promising, but, "Obviously it was a dry year," Orrock said.The Sierra snowpack is one of California's most important water sources, with its spring and summer runoff feeding rivers and reservoirs, watering crops, and filling bathtubs and water glasses. Mountain snowpack provides about 30% of the yearly fresh water supply for California.The good news is that while this year's snowpack is meager, the state's reservoirs are still full, with water levels near or above normal, due to last year's storm-filled winter. The state's largest reservoir, Shasta, is at 94% of normal for this time of year."Last year was the fifth-highest snowpack in California history, and that's really helping out because our reservoirs are well-equipped," he said.While the rainy season got off to a late start this year, December saw above-average precipitation, but then January saw few storms, and February was among the driest Februarys in recorded history.Due to Californians water conservation efforts in recent years and the plentiful reservoir supply, California is not experiencing widespread drought, but Orrock said that will change if next year is also marked by more sunny days than stormy ones. "If we get into another dry year like this, then we have to look into adding conservation measures into the fold," he said.Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.

State surveyors traveled into the Sierra Nevada mountain range Thursday to conduct the final snow survey of the season and asses the state of the snowpack before it melts into the state's rivers and reservoirs.At Phillips Station off U.S. 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe, they found the snow was 3% of its average for the date. The finding is yet another indicator of this year's dry winter. In contrast, the measurement taken at this spot at this time in 2019 was 188% of average."It's a good example of the extreme variability we have in California," said Chris Orrock, a spokesperson for the California...

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Amy Graff

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Sierra snow pack is 3% of May average: Here's what that means

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