Source: California Department of Water Resources
Several days of rain and snow have raised water levels in most major California reservoirs in the past month.
But, Doug Carlson with the California Department of Water Resources says the state is nowhere near even a normal year for rain and snow.
"That would take considerable precipitation -very heavy rain and snow- from now til perhaps the end of April to achieve the normal readings that we would expect in the snow pack for this time of year," he says. "That's just not in the forecast."
The eight inches of water in the Sierra snow pack is less than a-third of normal for this time of year.
"To help us get through this extended dry period we would need almost-every-other-day kind of heavy precipitation to begin to fill the reservoirs," says Carlson. "But, we're so far below what is normal for this time of date, that it would appear to be that we're just not going to see it."
Most of the other reservoirs in the state saw current capacity increase by one-to-four percent in the past month.
After starting the year as the worst drought on record, water levels have risen to at least match those last seen during the drought of 1976 and 77.
Source: CDEC.water.ca.gov
Related Stories
Feds Reduce Water Allocation For California
Friday, February 27, 2015The US Bureau of Reclamation says most farmers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will face a second year with no water from the Central Valley Project. Some farmers and cities may receive more.
Warm Weather Threatens Way of Life at Lake Tahoe
Thursday, February 26, 2015It would not be an odd sight in the spring. But there is something depressing about a closed ski slope in the middle of winter. The trails are bare and grassy. The chairlifts just hang there, waving a little with the breeze.
Poll: Most Californians Support Mandatory Water Rationing
Thursday, February 26, 2015A new poll finds nearly all Californians think the state's drought is serious -- and there's growing support for mandatory water rationing.
California Lawmakers Will Examine Ways To Capture Stormwater
Tuesday, February 24, 2015The California drought has state lawmakers looking for creative and affordable ways to increase the state’s water supply. A legislative hearing Wednesday will highlight ways that could make it easier to capture stormwater.
Residents, Farmers Describe Drought Impacts At Marathon State Water Resources Board Hearing
Thursday, February 19, 2015The California Water Resources Control Board heard emotional testimony for at least 12 hours yesterday from people worried about how the state should manage its dwindling supply of water during the drought.