The latest snow pack survey is good news for California’s water supply. The Department of Water Resources conducted the fourth Phillips Station snow survey of 2019 Tuesday. The manual survey recorded 106.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 51 inches, which is 200 percent of average for that location. Statewide, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is 162 percent of average. California has experienced more than 30 atmospheric rivers since the start of the water year, with six in February alone, and statewide snow water equivalent has nearly tripled since February 1. Snow water equivalent is the depth of water that theoretically would result if the entire snowpack melted instantaneously. The state’s largest six reservoirs are all currently over 100 percent of their historical averages for this date. Lake Shasta, California’s largest surface reservoir, is 109 percent of its historical average and sits at 89 percent of capacity. The Sierra snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs as it melts into streams and reservoirs to meet water demands throughout the year. The April results are a key indicator for the rest of the year’s water supply. While the April 1st snowpack data is good news for the water supply, state officials warn there could be flooding risks later this spring.
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