Sierra snowpack above normal but more needed
By: Janet Zimmerman

The Sierra Nevada snowpack remains slightly above normal, but more precipitation is desperately needed to counter several dry years and increase water deliveries to Southern California this summer, state officials said Wednesday.

In the third Lake Tahoe-area survey of the season, the water content of the snow was 107 percent of normal for the date. At this time last year, it was 80 percent of normal. Last month, the snow water content was 115 percent of normal.

The findings are good news, but not good enough, said Dave Rizzardo, chief of snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the Department of Water Resources.

"It's better than last year, but February (snowfall) ended up being below average, and that puts a lot more focus on what we need for March," he said.

To get an average runoff this spring, the snowpack needs to be 120 percent of average by April 1, and the state is off the pace to achieve that, Rizzardo said.

Five monthly assessments through the end of April are the primary basis for forecasting the year's water supply from reservoirs in Northern California. The Sierra is the "bank" for the State Water Project, the system that funnels spring runoff from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through aqueducts to Southern California.

Inland water districts depend on those deliveries for most of their supplies or to augment groundwater.

The Department of Water Resources officials announced that they plan to deliver 15 percent of contracted amount to agencies -- based on reservoir levels -- but have said that could increase if the season produces at least an average year in terms of rainfall. Pumping from the delta is restricted to protect endangered fish species.