Water might be a little tight this summer.
Sierra snow comes up short
By Matt Weiser - mweiser@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, May 2, 2008
Despite new warnings Thursday that a water crisis is looming in California, state officials continue to maintain that enforceable conservation goals are not necessary.
The Department of Water Resources on Thursday took its final Sierra Nevada snowpack survey of the season, and the findings only added to the grim prognosis for the state's water supply.
The water content of the snowpack stands at just 67 percent of average for the May 1 date. That's because this year's March and April period proved to be the driest since 1921, when record-keeping began.
Though snowfall was about average in January and February, it wasn't enough to make up for the following two months, which were virtually snowless.
After drought conditions last year, much of the snowmelt will merely be absorbed by parched soil and won't make its way into the streams and reservoirs.
In addition, poor environmental conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and a federal court decision have restricted water exports to 25 million Californians. It's estimated these effects have already cost customers about 600,000 acre-feet of water this year, or enough to serve 1.2 million families for a year.
"We're really up against it here in California," said Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman.
