The short of it is that the entire state of Ca. is at 84% of normal, which is way below what it was in January. The Central Sierra,which is my neck of the woods, is at 79% of normal.Don't know how this translates to the Whitney region,but I do know that the Whitney Zone has been below what the rest of the Sierra has received this year. Either way,it definately means an early start to training hikes.
Here is the long of it:
Record Temps Blamed For Sierra Snow Pack Decline
Water Officials Say Results Should Not Trigger Cutbacks
POSTED: 4:12 pm PST March 30, 2004
UPDATED: 5:40 pm PST March 30, 2004
PHILIPS, Calif. -- State water officials took their very important snow pack measurements Tuesday to see what California's water outlook will be the rest of the year.
As soon as state snow surveyors hit the Sierra Tuesday morning, they said the initial outlook was not good. Water officials confirmed the past month of record temperatures and dry days melted California's water-filled snow pack from "way above average" to "way below average."
"What we're seeing is a 10-inch loss in this area, when we should be seeing a 4-inch gain," said Department of Water Resources snow surveyor Frank Gehrke.
Tuesday's findings are used to help determine water allocations for the rest of the state for the rest of the year. Surveyor's say that the shallower the Sierra snow pack, the less water will run off downstream to feed agriculture, recreation and the environment.
The survey found the snow pack in the central Sierra has fallen to only 79 percent of normal. Because of that, even with the northern Sierra's above average snow pack added in, the statewide snow pack stands at only 84 percent of where it should be.
"It's a disappointing March," said snow pack surveyor Dave Hart.
However, state water officials say, even though snow pack was lost, the reservoirs have had enough room to capture the early run-off.
"The reservoir levels are very good. Fortunately, last April gave us a cushion going into this year," Gehrke said.
"We're headed into the season with a decent water supply. Certainly, it's not a critical one. We've gone into water years with a lot less water in the bucket, so to speak," Hart said.
State water officials say the water supply forecasts used to allocate water throughout the state will probably come in "below average" almost everywhere; however, not enough to trigger any significant cutbacks in supply.
Officials also said a big, wet April could easily improve the state's water supply outlook
