SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — With record low amounts of rainfall in October and just half of normal for December, California water managers on Tuesday preliminarily allocated just 10% of requested water supplies to agencies that together serve more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
The state Department of Water Resources cited the dry start to the rainy season in California’s Mediterranean climate, along with low reservoir levels remaining from last year’s relatively dry winter. Winter snow typically supplies about 30% of the state’s water as it melts.
There is no serious precipitation in the forecast over the next week.
Last year’s initial allocation also was 10% and climbed only to 20% when the final allocation was made in May. Most areas that depend on the state-supplied water also have other sources including groundwater, streams and their own reservoirs.
The department’s eight precipitation measuring stations scattered across Northern California collected a record-low 0% of average rainfall in October and 53% in November.
Meanwhile, the state’s major reservoirs are lower than they were at this time a year ago.
As of Dec. 3, Lake Tahoe’s water level was at 6,225.69 feet, about 4 feet short of capacity. It’s over a foot less than last year at this time and 2 feet lower than two years ago.
Lake Shasta, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir, is at 75% of its historical average, down from 119% a year ago. Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, is at 61% compared to 90% last year.
“While we still have several months ahead of us, dry conditions persist,” department Director Karla Nemeth said in a statement urging the state’s nearly 40 million residents to conserve water. “As communities throughout California prepare to support their environment and economies through times of extended dry periods, state agencies plan together to support those communities.”
The initial allocation uses conservative assumptions and is updated monthly as conditions change based on snowfall and water runoff. The department will conduct this winter’s first snow survey on Dec. 30 south of Lake Tahoe at the Phillips Station near Sierra-at-Tahoe.
Snowpack readings currently in the basin show Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe at about 77% of average for this time of year, Marlette Lake near Incline Village is showing 108% and Echo Peak in El Dorado County is at 122%.
The weather pattern looks to stay the same through the weekend at Lake Tahoe — sunny, mostly clear, light wind, high temperatures around the mid to upper 40s and the overnight low in the high 20s.
The National Weather Service in Reno is calling for a chance of sprinkles and snow flurries after 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The extended forecast into next week shows the weather pattern remaining unchanged.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Link LonkDecember 03, 2020 at 10:14PM
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/dry-start-to-rain-snow-season-prompts-low-water-allocation/
Dry start to rain, snow season prompts low water allocation - Tahoe Daily Tribune
https://news.google.com/search?q=dry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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