This is just the first of five snow surveys to be taken once a month through May. But Ted Thomas with the California Department of Water Resources says these early results are already good news.
"We're going to be a lot better than we were during the 2007 - 2009 drought years, that's for sure. That's already in the bank."
Thomas says there are concerns that with La Nina the water content of the snow might diminish. But he says this month's initial measurements show there's 198 percent of long-term average water content now, compared to 85 percent this time last year.
The water that comes from rain and snow fall in the Sierra
provides water for two-thirds of California, including one million
acres of irrigated farmland.
