Very dry weather in California in January and February has wiped out surplus snow levels in the Sierra Nevada, with a monthly survey conducted Tuesday finding that the snowpack is now at about two-thirds of normal.
The state’s Department of Water Resources conducted Tuesday’s survey at Phillips Station near South Lake Tahoe and found a snow depth of 35 inches and a snow water equivalent of 16 inches, about 68 percent of average for that location on or around the start of March.
A wet December in California had snow levels at more than 200 percent of normal at the start of 2022 and it was still at 109 percent of average as of Feb. 1 despite a dry January, but a second straight month of little to no rain around much of the state has officials calling for continued conservation amid the ongoing drought.
“With only one month left in California’s wet season and no major storms in the forecast, Californians should plan for a third year of drought conditions,” Department of Water Resources director Karla Nemeth said. “A significantly below-average snowpack combined with already low reservoir levels make it critical that all Californians step up and conserve water.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Californians to cut back their water use by at least 15 percent compared to 2020 levels.
People can look at water levels around the state via California Water Watch, a new website set up by the Department of Water Resources at https://cww.water.ca.gov/.
7 comments
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I stayed at a motel in SoCal over the weekend and was appalled that their sinks and showers don’t use low-flow fittings or aerators, or toilets.
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Why aren’t commercial guest units (motel/hotel rooms) required to use water-conserving fittings, fixtures, and equipment?
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If we’re talking about “common sense legislation, this is one that would make perfect sense unlike most of the idiocy adopted in Sacramento.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Californians to cut back their water use by at least 15 percent compared to 2020 levels.
Hey grease ball, pound sand.
Well done! The perfect cheer for Newsom!
This would sound great amplified in a stadium, concert, large house of worship, or during a Newsom presser:
“Once again, under my leadership, California is leading the nation in blah blah blah”……….Suddenly interrupted by:
“Hey greaseball, go pound sand”.
Priceless.
…. and they keep approving more housing? …where is the water going to come from? Newsom won’t use our surplus tax $$ for desalination plants or more water retention reservoirs… instead he uses OUR tax $$ for his pet projects … like the high seed rail to nowhere… If you voted against the recall – don’t complain
Randy, you hit the nail on the head. Newsom will only react when we get to the point when one can no longer flush their toilet. It is funny how all these politicians bark about global warming and one of the issues pertaining to global warming is drought. Why is Newsome reactive instead of proactive? It is common sense, does not take a rocket surgeon to understand.
The dear Governor would like us to conserve so more water will be available to fill up the new dams and reservoirs that were built. Planning for the future.
I bet his lawn is nice and green and his pool full.
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