Posted on 04/19/2017 1:20:48 PM PDT by BenLurkin
As of April 1, when it was last measured by NASAs Airborne Snow Observatory, the snowpack in the Sierras Tuolumne River Basin came in at 1.2 million acre-feet, according to the latest data.
To put the amount in perspective, the figure is enough to fill the 92,000-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena almost 1,600 times.
The 2017 California snowpack is close to the largest on the record, which consists of decades worth of snow measurements made at ground level, according to a NASA news release.
The snowpack, which is made up of layers of snow that accumulate in the winter and spring months in the Sierra Nevada, is critical to California because its the key to the states water needs.
During warmer months, the melting snow filters down the mountains into creeks, streams and rivers as it makes its way into the Golden States water system.
Most of Californias annual precipitation roughly 80 percent comes as snow.
The Tuolumne Basins snowpack measures twice the volume from last year, and is roughly 21 times larger than the one two years ago, which the agency said is the lowest ever recorded.
...
And, as NASA noted, there was still plenty of snow in mountainous areas at the start of spring.
In much of the Central Sierra, snow lies 25 feet deep (8 meters). In some high mountain basins, its deeper than 80 feet (24 meters), the agency said of the latest measurement, pointing out that theres been even more snow since the analysis was conducted.
At Mammoth Mountain, in the Eastern Sierra, the resort has experienced record snowfall, and plans to remain open through July 4.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
“but nothing else will come in the way of benefits as the melt off runs directly into the sea”
Not so. Study.
More than half is stored and used for irrigation of the finest farmland in the world. The water distribution system in California would make the Romans quite jealous.
The only thing it has been lacking lately is water.
Maybe what they need is more central planning by the politboro in Sacramento and their political doctrine officials in Berkeley.
It’s worked so well in the past.
“Now that all the earthwork dams in the Sierras have been knocked down and the gates opened”
Ridiculous.
Name even ONE of significance.
Another foot or so of snow fell on Mammoth Mountain just two days ago.
Good one!
Global cooling is far worse than expected. There might be a way to fix it, but I’m going to need a multi-million dollar grant to study the problem.
The population has more than doubled yet the idiots running the state refuse to build dams and reservoirs. And California voters keep putting the same people with the same bankrupt ideas in office. Complete and total insanity.
I’d love to leave the state but I live on the central California coast, love it here and everything is paid off. What to do what to do...
If you live on the central coast in a paid residence, you could go almost anywhere and buy a mansion. Are you waiting for the big earthquake? Lol
California still has plenty of water in normal rain years or better.
However, we lack the ability to store up for a non-rainy day.
The fix would be to build a large dam upstream for the major dams in place today...only 4-5 rivers would be adequate.
It’s estimated that both the Oroville dam and the Folsom dam would nearly triple their respective storage that way.
That's simply not true. Here is the data for Lake Shasta:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/resDetailOrig.action?resid=SHA
You will note that it was drawn down earlier this year and is now starting to fill with late rain runoff, which will be followed by the snowpack. The draw down is going to all the reservoirs closer to the population like San Luis and those in the LA Basin. While it's true we desperately need more storage capacity, the state isn't going throw away most of the snowpack. The biggest screwup has been the failure to maintain Oroville, and the loss of the water they had to prematurely release because of the spillway failure.
My former home was on the central coast, also. Year after year, legislature after legislature, tax after tax and the growing influence of liberal insanity finally opened my eyes to the fact that the state I was born and raised in was gone and not coming back.
They have that already, with a means to make the water flow thru a wonderful natural bedrock waterway, and even a nice concrete place below it for tourists to watch from while enjoying a summer bar-b-q. Bring your own chairs and grill.
As of yesterday, the state’s major reservoirs:
Trinity: 95%
Shasta: 96%
Oroville: 86%
Melones: 84%
Folsom: 77%
San Luis: 97%
Don Pedro: 83%
Millerton: 46%
Mc Clure: 65%
Perris: 44%
Castaic: 91%
Pine Flat: 50%
Come August, they’ll be whining it’s hot and there’s no water.
You make a very good point. My kids like it here, my mom is still around and it’s gorgeous with the beach and mountains. Not sure how long I’ll be here but for now I’m staying.
Good point. We just need a governor with a working brain to do the right thing. If Newsom is our next governor I may be leaving no matter how much I like it here.
How do you like Idaho? I really like the Sand Point area but the wife wouldn’t want to live there because it’s too cold.
California is the most livable and beautiful state in my opinion; however, I’m still glad to be in Florida. I left Cali 30 years ago, and every time I’ve been back, I’m amazed at how bad it’s become. During my lifetime, it went from a world showcase to a complete basket-case.
I grew up in the desert just north of the Garlock fault, and we used to joke about how the big one would give us beach front someday, but the greatest benefit would be to regain control of Sacramento. Outside of the Basin and the Bay Area, people still seem sane and independent, but it will take a literal war to wrest control back to the people.
Good luck, and enjoy the break from drought!
Before moving back here I lived in the central valley where lots of like minded people live, and I got to meet Jim and John Robinson along with many other freepers.
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