Posted on 03/02/2009 8:10:33 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The warnings have been ominous this winter: California is headed into the worst drought in modern history. The water supply is drying up. Or, as one water association declared last week, "Things just keep getting worse and worse."
Is it really that bad?
If you look at the numbers, the answer is no. Not only have a series of February storms pushed up mountain snowpack levels, but by historical standards the current three-year drought is far from the worst.
Monday, the state Department of Water Resources announced that the mountain snowpack that feeds the state's reservoirs has reached 80% of normal for the date. Precipitation in the northern and southern Sierra has climbed above 90% of average and another storm is on the way.
"Right now it doesn't look too bleak," said Maury Roos, the state's chief hydrologist. "I think we'll have more runoff than last year."
The water interests who have spit out grim news releases the last two months were silent Monday in the face of the growing snowpack.
Those who would like to build new reservoirs and canals and to weaken environmental regulations have invoked the drought like a mantra in recent weeks.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Typical RAT hysterics to shove it up the taxpayers rears.
“Those who would like to build new reservoirs and canals and to weaken environmental regulations have invoked the drought like a mantra in recent weeks.”
The LA Times just HAD to get that liberal dig in there, didn’t they?
Maybe the CA Legislature could fix it by just passing an 1100 page Bill that they don't read. It worked great in D.C. a couple of weeks ago, didn't it?
Also, late-season rains mean more impounded water compared with earlier rains. This is because less water is lost due to spilling and evaporation.
Lots of worries here in the (once) Golden State.
At this moment, water doesn't appear to be a big one.
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A heavy rain is beating against my window as I type this. This so-called drought is mostly hype. We should be back to normal in a few weeks.
Two weeks ago these govt bozos said the snow packs was 75% of normal then last week 78% and now they say 80%. So in two
weeks 5% change. Do they even know what it really is?
The one that ended in 1991 was pretty bad. I was visiting a friend when it started raining; his 6-year-old daughter came out of her bedroom crying in terror wondering what was happening to the world. It was the first time she had ever heard a rainstorm in her life.
I have read that during the Middle Ages, the snow pack on the mountains , at least in the south, disappeared entirely. The cyclic nature of the world’s climate tells us that predicts for the future probably are beyond our science, now and perhaps forever.
Thats why we need nuke plants combined with desalination plants up and down the coast
The Sierra snowpack is fine this year. Lots of snow up there, I look at it every day.
I remember 1991. I told a Midwest relative that I just saw the first real rain in six years. He couldn’t beleve it.
Keep filling your swimming pools and then tell me you don’t have any water.
Desalinization must be promoted. The fact that it is not is to me highly suspicious. Ever notice how many places in the world whining about water are coastlines, including the ISLAND of Cyprus. We are told that the seas are rising. Help, help!! We could continue weeping and ringing our hands and giving up our freedoms over that theory, Or we could build desalinization plants and pipelines to fill aquifers thousands of miles inland from coasts.
Check out the ideas of Patricia Mulroy, Nevada Water Board, who proposes pumping the floodwaters of the Mississippi westward BEFORE they destroy everyting in their path to the south. But wait, that makes too much sense.............
That said, Scotts Valley is offering some financial incentives to change your lawn to xeriscape. I may look into it.
I thought the San Gabriel mountains were blanketed with more snow than usual this winter. What the hell?
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Reservoir Gauge Information
http://alert.valleywater.org/gageresv-cross.html
Latest snowpack — Up from the mid60% range earlier
DWR Announces Snow Survey Results
The Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) third snow survey of the winter season indicates snow water content is 80 percent of normal for the date, statewide. Last year at this time, snowpack was 114 percent of normal, but the driest spring on record followed, resulting in a second consecutive dry water year. Daily electronic readings may be accessed at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snowsurvey_sno/DLYSWEQ. (03/02/2009)
I hope you realize that Northern California ends at the Mendocino/Sonoma line and Southern California begins there...
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