CHICO — In addition to helping revitalize reservoirs, recent storms appear to have brought significant snow.
The California Department of Water Resources conducted its second snow survey in 2023 at Phillips Station, where snow cover was measured at 85.5 inches and found a snow water equivalent of 33.5 inches. According to the DWR, this is 193% of the average for the February 1 measurement at Phillips Station.
DWR conducted surveys across California and said the state as a whole has 205% of the annual average in terms of snow cover.
About 30% of California’s water supply needs, on average, are determined by the snowpack of the Sierra Nevada. It also determines how water is managed by DWR.
Throughout January 2023, the northern state was battered by major storm systems that contributed heavily to local water supplies, prompting DWR to issue an interim water allocation of 30%, higher than since 2019. This was a drastic change from January 2022, bone dry after a few storms ended December.
DWR Supervising Engineer David Rizzardo said the department is working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to monitor the possibility of extreme runoff to avoid flooding at reservoirs operated by the Corps. Departments must find a balance between flood and drought management.
“So the bottom line is it’s a little bit of both right now,” Rizzardo said. “It’s flood and drought management for them, trying to maximize storage while minimizing threats to downstream communities should snow or even future rain events accelerate runoff.”
Anjanett Shadley, the assistant general manager for the Western Canal Water District, which covers Afterbay to County Road Y in Glenn County, said snow cover will affect whether her district’s compliance agreement is honored.
“Our diversion agreement states that we cannot be cut by more than 100% in any seven-year period,” Shadley said.
The district includes areas caught between state and federal regulations. What happens west of the Sacramento River is monitored by the federal government, while the east side is usually state controlled.
Shadley said groundwater continues to be indirectly affected by surface water levels, as more surface water means districts don’t have to use as much groundwater.
Sean Earley, a groundwater specialist at the Richvale Irrigation District and a seat on the Farm Bureau board, said he was optimistic about the significant amount of snow cover.
“It’s quite a lot of snowpack and there seems to be a lot of water, so we’re feeling pretty good about it,” Earley said. “We’ve been cut in recent years and I think this year we’ll have a full allocation. Based on (DWR’s) provisional allocation to the State Water Project of 30%, they’re obviously pretty comfortable with that too.”
The Richvale Irrigation District is generally 100% surface water based, although Earley said he sources groundwater when needed, adding that it’s only a small portion of the district’s overall irrigation methods.
Higher allocations also mean more water for agriculture, of which Northern California has a significant share.
Farmer Josh Sheppard, who runs farms in several water districts, said he feels the same optimism but is cautious.
“We can’t put the cart too far ahead of the horse,” Sheppard said. “But there is an expectation here locally that we will have a full water supply.”
Sheppard added that this may not apply to areas west of the Sacramento Valley, which extend further than runoff could reach in May and June.
“It may not be back to full production for everyone,” Sheppard said. “We didn’t get into this situation overnight and it’s not reasonable to expect that we’ll get out of it in one fell swoop.”
Although there is still a long way to go to recover from California’s drought, Sheppard said he hopes this is a step in the right direction.
“I’m looking forward to getting closer to normality but that means we have to make progress this year and hopefully get back into a wet pattern.”
DWR Director Karla Nemeth stressed that weather conditions are becoming increasingly extreme, citing recent storms against earlier dry winters.
“California has always experienced some degree of wet-dry variability, but the last few months have shown how much more extreme those variability are becoming,” Nemeth said. “California is preparing for more intense and dangerous climate swings by supporting both drought and flood preparations. While today’s results are good news for water supplies, we know from experience how quickly snow cover can disappear if dry conditions return in the coming months.”
Sean de Guzman, head of the snow survey and water supply forecasting unit at DWR, said the snowpack will support the state’s water supply, but not without caveats.
“Large amounts of snow like today are a welcome sight, but also present new challenges for water managers as they walk the fine line between water supply and flood control,” said de Guzman. “As we enter snowmelt season in spring, water managers will work to manage flood risk and optimize the benefits of snowpack water supply during peak summer demand.”