Latest news with #Reising
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials issue surprising update about critical issue with water supply: 'Our luck could run out'
After a rocky start to the water year, California's late-season storms have delivered a much-needed boost to both snowpack and water reservoirs — and it's a welcome surprise for state water officials According to The Sacramento Bee, snow survey manager Andy Reising summed up the final manual snow survey of the season with cautious optimism: "While it's positive news today, we know that our luck could run out and we could fall into a drought any time." The statewide snowpack was sitting at 90% of the April 1 average, thanks to a handful of cold storms in February and March that flipped the script after a bleak start. For example, on January 2, snowpack was just 28% of what is considered normal for that time of year. "We've had back in 2015, 5% of the annual snowpack on April 1. So we're at 90% ... I'm feeling generally positive, especially (since) earlier in the season there were some indications that maybe this would be a drier year," Reising said, per the Bee. The good news didn't stop there. Those storms also gave a much-needed boost to reservoir levels, which provide water to tens of millions of Californians and hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland. Lake Oroville, the state's second-largest reservoir, hit 87% of capacity. That's also a whopping 121% of its historical average for early April. San Luis Reservoir was at 89%, and Shasta Lake, the state's largest, was holding steady at 87% of capacity and 111% of average. While water managers were cautious, this turnaround was good news for California residents. For communities across the state, full reservoirs mean more reliable water access for homes, farms, and local businesses — and a lower risk of water restrictions heading into summer. It was also good news for the environment. Healthy snowpack and steady water flows help protect fish like salmon that rely on cold, clean water to spawn. These also help ease pressure on groundwater and support ecosystems that have struggled through years of drought. Still, Reising pointed out that with the increase in extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, these strong measurements might not last. "It's the California way," Reising added. The state is using these findings to push for more long-term water supply solutions, including improved infrastructure. Do you take steps to conserve water at home? All the time Usually Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. DWR officials said that if the proposed Delta Conveyance Project had already been built, it could have captured 750,000 acre-feet of water this winter — enough to raise allocations by another 20%. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
For the first time in 25 years, California has a snowpack trifecta
The year may have started with a dry spell, but the end of California's storm season has brought more fresh snow to the Sierra Nevada, pushing the state's snowpack to 96% of average on April 1, when the snow season typically reaches its peak. The near-average snowpack has given the state a third straight year of ample water supplies in the mountains — something that hasn't happened in a quarter of a century. "Earlier on, there were some indicators that we might have a dry year, but fortunately, the storm windows have stayed open and given us a good boost in February and March to be where we are today," said Andy Reising, manager of snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the California Department of Water Resources. This near-average winter followed an extremely wet and snowy 2023 and a wet 2024. This time last year, the snowpack measured 111% of average. The dominance of wet weather has brought a reprieve from the severe drought Californians endured from 2020 through 2022, the state's driest three-year period on record. The last time California had three consecutive years of average or above-average snow was from 1998 to 2000, Reising said. At that point, it had been 20 years since a similar pattern occurred, from 1978 to 1980. This year's storms have brought ample rains at lower elevations, and statewide precipitation since Oct. 1 measures 103% of average for this time of year. The last two wet years have also left California's reservoirs in good shape. The state's major reservoirs are now at 117% of average levels. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers water for 19 million people in six counties, has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas. "The reservoirs are above average for this time of year, and so that's a great sign for this year moving forward," Reising told reporters during a briefing Tuesday. California's snowpack typically provides nearly a third of the state's water supply. The latest storms and increased snowpack prompted state water officials last week to increase their forecast of water deliveries this year from the aqueducts of the State Water Project, which transports supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California. The allocation was increased to 40% of requested supplies, up from 35% a month earlier. Read more: Trump administration dramatically cuts staff at water agency in California The Trump administration also announced last week that it increased water allocations this year for the Central Valley Project, or CVP, the federally managed system of dams and reservoirs that delivers supplies from the Delta to farmlands and communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Many agencies that receive water from the CVP were already set to receive 100% of their allotments, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that agricultural irrigation districts south of the Delta will now receive 40% allocations, up from an initial 35%, while those that receive water from the Friant-Kern and Madera canals will get 100% of their allotments. The federal agency said in a written statement that it was seeking to "maximize" water deliveries as President Trump recently directed in an executive order. Large agricultural water districts in the Central Valley have supported Trump's order, while environmental advocates have raised concerns that federal efforts to increase pumping in the Delta could threaten vulnerable fish species that have already suffered declines in recent years. The Bureau of Reclamation said that, acting under Trump's executive order, it would "continue to maximize pumping whenever possible at the federal pumping facility to move water to parts of California where it is needed most." Read more: New desalination technology being tested in California could lower costs of tapping seawater Although the ample snowpack and nearly full reservoirs mean stable water supplies for California for the time being, officials and experts caution that the next dry spell could come at any time. Scientific research has shown that droughts are growing more intense in the western United States because of global warming and that average snow lines have been creeping higher in the mountains as temperatures rise, altering runoff patterns. In February, scientists noted that the snowpack was significantly smaller at many lower-elevation monitoring sites in the mountains after months of warmer-than-average temperatures. This year also brought a pattern of more snow and wetter conditions in Northern California, with less snow and drier conditions in Southern California. As of Tuesday, the snowpack measured 118% of average in the northern Sierra Nevada, 91% of average in the central Sierra and 84% of average in the southern Sierra. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, said in a social media post that after Tuesday's cold weather system departs, "spring will begin in earnest across California," with much drier and warmer conditions in the coming days. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
02-04-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
For the first time in 25 years, California has a snowpack trifecta
The year may have started with a dry spell, but the end of California's storm season has brought more fresh snow to the Sierra Nevada, pushing the state's snowpack to 96% of average on April 1, when the snow season typically reaches its peak. The near-average snowpack has given the state a third straight year of ample water supplies in the mountains — something that hasn't happened in a quarter of a century. 'Earlier on, there were some indicators that we might have a dry year, but fortunately, the storm windows have stayed open and given us a good boost in February and March to be where we are today,' said Andy Reising, manager of snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the California Department of Water Resources. This near-average winter followed an extremely wet and snowy 2023 and a wet 2024. This time last year, the snowpack measured 111% of average. The dominance of wet weather has brought a reprieve from the severe drought Californians endured from 2020 through 2022, the state's driest three-year period on record. The last time California had three consecutive years of average or above-average snow was from 1998 to 2000, Reising said. At that point, it had been 20 years since a similar pattern occurred, from 1978 to 1980. This year's storms have brought ample rains at lower elevations, and statewide precipitation since Oct. 1 measures 103% of average for this time of year. The last two wet years have also left California's reservoirs in good shape. The state's major reservoirs are now at 117% of average levels. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which delivers water for 19 million people in six counties, has a record amount of water banked in reservoirs and underground storage areas. 'The reservoirs are above average for this time of year, and so that's a great sign for this year moving forward,' Reising told reporters during a briefing Tuesday. California's snowpack typically provides nearly a third of the state's water supply. The latest storms and increased snowpack prompted state water officials last week to increase their forecast of water deliveries this year from the aqueducts of the State Water Project, which transports supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California. The allocation was increased to 40% of requested supplies, up from 35% a month earlier. The Trump administration also announced last week that it increased water allocations this year for the Central Valley Project, or CVP, the federally managed system of dams and reservoirs that delivers supplies from the Delta to farmlands and communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Many agencies that receive water from the CVP were already set to receive 100% of their allotments, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that agricultural irrigation districts south of the Delta will now receive 40% allocations, up from an initial 35%, while those that receive water from the Friant-Kern and Madera canals will get 100% of their allotments. The federal agency said in a written statement that it was seeking to 'maximize' water deliveries as President Trump recently directed in an executive order. Large agricultural water districts in the Central Valley have supported Trump's order, while environmental advocates have raised concerns that federal efforts to increase pumping in the Delta could threaten vulnerable fish species that have already suffered declines in recent years. The Bureau of Reclamation said that, acting under Trump's executive order, it would 'continue to maximize pumping whenever possible at the federal pumping facility to move water to parts of California where it is needed most.' Although the ample snowpack and nearly full reservoirs mean stable water supplies for California for the time being, officials and experts caution that the next dry spell could come at any time. Scientific research has shown that droughts are growing more intense in the western United States because of global warming and that average snow lines have been creeping higher in the mountains as temperatures rise, altering runoff patterns. In February, scientists noted that the snowpack was significantly smaller at many lower-elevation monitoring sites in the mountains after months of warmer-than-average temperatures. This year also brought a pattern of more snow and wetter conditions in Northern California, with less snow and drier conditions in Southern California. As of Tuesday, the snowpack measured 118% of average in the northern Sierra Nevada, 91% of average in the central Sierra and 84% of average in the southern Sierra. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, said in a social media post that after Tuesday's cold weather system departs, 'spring will begin in earnest across California,' with much drier and warmer conditions in the coming days.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Snowpack jumps to near average, but fire danger remains
A recent spate of storms across Central California has brought the state's snowpack to near average levels, but that's not likely to reduce the threat of wildfires as the temperature warms up. The Sierra Nevada mountains above Bakersfield saw a healthy dusting of snow last week as an atmospheric river brought cold temperatures and significant precipitation. "About the middle of February we were down at 54% and not sure what future weather would bring," said Andy Reising, a snow survey manager with the California Department of Water Resources. As of Monday, the statewide average snowpack was 90% of average based on a 30-year median between 1991-2020. The Southern Sierra Region, which includes parts of Kern County, was at 90% of average; Central Sierras, 86%, and Northern Sierra, 107%. "That's an increase of at least over 30, almost 35%," Reising said. "In the last five weeks, those storms that have come since the middle of February have actually targeted the south quite a bit." Statewide reservoirs were as high as 115%, Reising said, and DWR typically issues two reports on April 1 that are used by water managers in decision making. "The precipitation we've gotten has had a positive impact on (water supply) and will impact those decisions that the water managers need to make," Reising said. "We still have a few weeks left before April 1 but anything that happens after April 1 is very useful." The recent storms have turned many of the hills around Bakersfield a lush green but the rains are not likely to have a long-term impact on the area's fire danger. "Everyone wants us to say what's going to happen with the fire year. The best thing we can do is look at what have we been experiencing year over year," said Capt. Andrew Freeborn, spokesman for Kern County Fire Department. "Large, destructive fires." "We've seen nothing that's indicating we won't see that again this year," he said. Kern County can see rain during spring and winter months, but it's often followed by extended periods of high heat with no measurable precipitation. What rain does fall is enough to spur a lot of grass to grow, but not necessarily to restore moisture to trees and shrubs. Grass fires are easy to put out, Freeborn said, but trees and brush are more difficult, and burn with greater intensity. Warmer temperatures early in the year lead to faster snowmelt, Reising said, giving plants and soil more time to dry out. "We make the same proclamation every month, all year long," Freeborn said. "Prepare yourself, prepare your property and stay aware of your surroundings." ReadyKern is the county's emergency notification system that residents can sign up for online, and KCFD and CalFire both have online resources about ways to protect homes from wildfire.
