Amador County - The California Department of Water Resources announced results of the final snowpack survey of the season, which on Monday showed that water content is still 144 percent of the April 1 "full season average."

Manual and electronic readings showed California's near-record snowpack is slowly melting with warming spring weather. The "readings will help hydrologists forecast spring and summer snowmelt runoff into rivers and reservoirs. The melting snow supplies approximately one-third of the water used by Californians."

Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said: "All indications are that we're moving toward summer with a good water supply for our farms and cities." He said people "must be aware, however, that California can quickly turn from wet to dry, and we can't afford to forget the lessons of conservation that we learned in the 2007-2009 drought."

Ted Thomas, DWR Information Officer said in a release Monday that "snowpack water content is measured manually on or near the first of the month from January to May, and in real-time by electronic sensors." Manual readings off Highway 50 near Echo Summit showed 117 inches of snow depth at 7,600 feet elevation, with 231 percent of the long term average, and 60 inches of "water content."

A reading at 6,700 foot elevation in Lyons Creek also had 231 percent of long term average, with 105 inches of snow, and 52 inches of water content.

Thomas said electronic readings show water content in the northern mountains is 159 percent of the April 1 season average, and likewise at 144 percent in Central Sierra, 127 in south Sierra, and 144 percent statewide.

"The first of April is normally when snowpack water content is at its peak," Thomas said. "California's reservoirs are fed both by rain and snowpack runoff. A majority of the state's major reservoirs are above normal storage levels for the date."

Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project's principal reservoir, is 112 percent of average for the date, or 93 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity. Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project's largest reservoir with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet, is at 108 percent of average, and 94 percent capacity.

The Department of Water Resources estimated it will be able to deliver 80 percent of requested State Water Project water this year. In 2010, it delivered 50 percent of a requested 4.1 million acre-feet, up from a record-low initial projection of 5 percent due to lingering effects of the 2007-2009 drought.

The State Water Project delivers water to more than 25 million Californians and nearly one million acres of irrigated farmland. Statewide snowpack and reservoir level readings may be found at the Department of Water Resources website.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.