California faces second-worst snowpack in decades
Alan Riquelmy
PHILLIPS STATION, Calif. (CN) — Snow usually blankets the ground at the Phillips Station snow survey location during the winter. Walking across it on April 1 means you’re some 5 feet above the dirt.
On Wednesday, state water officials walked across green grass with a smattering of white powder at the site that sits some 6,800 feet above sea level.
April 1 is considered a key date in California’s snow measurements. By that date, the sun’s angle has reached a point assuring little to no snow accumulation for the remainder of the water year. The snowpack has reached its peak and will begin melting, sending the state’s frozen reservoir into streams and rivers.
Except, this year, the snowmelt started much sooner than officials wanted. Snowpack’s peak hit in late February, not April 1 as usual.
“Obviously, we measured today, but there was no measurable snow,” said Andy Reising, manager of the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit with the state Department of Water Resources. “This is obviously a below-average year.”
At the last snow survey, held in late February, the department measured 28 inches of snow and 11 inches of snow-water equivalent at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. On Wednesday, officials found zero snow-water content and zero snow depth.
Over 260 snow survey sites are scattered across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, with some of them using automated measuring technology. Reising said the statewide average snowpack is 18% of the average for this date. In late February, it was 66% of the average.
It’s the second-lowest measurement in decades.
“Better than 2015, but still second,” Resing said.
A mostly dry winter and brutally warm March eliminated the snowpack. California saw strong storms around the new year and in mid-February. However, a warm weather system quickly moved in, driving up temperatures and starting snowmelt late that month instead of now.
“As we know, March was dry as a bone, until yesterday,” Reising said as snow fell at the site.
While praising the new snowfall, it isn’t expected to make a dent in the state’s water issues.
Karla Nemeth, department director, attended the survey in person. She said storms bringing mostly rain, instead of snow, and the warm March created challenges for the months ahead.
The state’s reservoirs are in good shape, Nemeth added. But that doesn’t take away from the state’s water worries.
That’s because, in a good year, snowmelt would trickle down to the reservoirs between April and June.
“What’s different this year is we don’t have that,” Nemeth said. “What we have in the reservoirs is what we have.”
Repeating a common refrain, Nemeth said the state must adapt to the changing climate. California needs to install recycling methods, enabling the use of water more than once, and more efficient use of its water.
She added some jurisdictions could set days restricting lawn and landscaping watering.
“You need to pay attention to that,” Nemeth said.
Nicole Ghio, California director at Food & Water Watch, said in a statement that fossil fuel use is driving climate change, which makes water access more precarious.
“And, our state’s water use continues to be out of alignment with reality, with far too much water going to big agribusiness’ tree nuts, alfalfa fields and factory farms,” she added. “Without bold action to address the root of the issue — rampant water abuse from fossil fuels and agribusiness — we will continue to experience historically low snowpack.”