Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  •  

Water In California’s Snowpack Nearly Double Its Long-Term Average

  •  Julia Mitric 
Monday, May 1, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
California Department Of Water Resources

Right, Frank Gehrke chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program and Wes McCandless a contract analyst, conduct the final snow survey for the 2017 snow season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California.

California Department Of Water Resources

The water content of the Sierra snowpack is nearly double the average of long-time measurements. The state's lead water agency conducted the last survey of the wet season Monday. It's now a matter of managing run-off. 

Frank Gehrke with the Department of Water Resources took the measurement near Lake Tahoe.

Now, for the remainder of the melt season, "There's significant effort looking at how to manage the in-flow to the big reservoirs on the Tuolumne down to the Kings," says Gehrke. "Because those reservoirs are basically at the maximum they can store for this time of year and yet we have a huge snowpack above that."

Gehrke says the airborne snow observatory, a joint project with NASA, will be a key tool in assessing how much water is stored in the snowpack at higher elevations.

He says it's the most accurate and comprehensive measurement of the Sierra snowpack.

And it didn't exist in 2011 - the last time California saw similar conditions.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 snowpacksnow survey

Julia Mitric

Former Food And Sustainability Reporter

For Julia, food and life are inseparable.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Composting starts soon in Sacramento County. Here’s what you need to know.

June 29, 2022

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File

What the Supreme Court ruling means for the EPA's ability to fight climate change

June 30, 2022

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: July 2022

Sacramento County primary election results are final. November election races are now set.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

California coronavirus updates: July 2022

Sacramento County primary election results are final. November election races are now set.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.