Snowpack survey offers positive NorCal water outlook

Thursday (Jan. 2), the California Department of Water Resources completed its first check of the Sierra snowpack. Overall, California’s snowpack measured 108% of normal – an encouraging starting point for these surveys.

In the Sierra Nevada near Echo Summit, the Phillips Station survey measured 24 inches of snow, with the equivalent of 9 inches of “snow water” – how much water is contained in melted snow. That’s 91% of average for this location for the New Year’s survey.

At nearly 6,800 feet elevation, Phillips is on the south fork of the American River in El Dorado County. That snow water flows directly into our watershed, feeding our rivers and supplying water to the foothills and valley.

To measure snowpack, DWR uses 130 electronic monitoring stations spread throughout California’s mountains. In this first survey, the stations averaged 10.7 inches snow water – 108% of average. That’s a huge improvement on the statewide average for this same date in 2024: 28%.

This winter’s atmospheric rivers (including the one that soaked Sacramento on Friday) have refreshed the Sierra snowpack, helping to make up for a red-hot summer and parched fall.

According to DWR, California’s major reservoirs are at 121% of average capacity, thanks to two wet winters. Water-wise, we look like we’re in pretty good shape for 2025 (fingers crossed).

“We are fortunate to have had several solid snow-producing atmospheric river systems so far this season,” said Andy Reising, DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Manager, in announcing the totals. “The fall was extremely dry, so our healthy snow totals are thanks to a handful of big storm systems in November and late December. But to finish the year where we need to be, we will still need additional snow building at a regular pace throughout the winter.”

In 2013 and 2022, California had very snowy Decembers – but that was it. Prolonged dry periods erased early gains and snowpack averages finished down.

“While our snowpack looks good now, we have a long way until April when our water supply picture will be more complete,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth in the snow survey announcement. “Extreme shifts between dry and wet conditions are continuing this winter and, if the past several years are any indication, anything could happen between now and April and we need to be prepared.”

The next snow survey is set for Feb. 3.

Handy tool: California Water Watch

In the meantime, DWR has a great tool for water watchers throughout the state. California Water Watch offers up-to-date information on water supply, precipitation, groundwater, reservoirs and much more.

Rainfall totals are broken down by zip code. For example, my Greenhaven/Pocket neighborhood in Sacramento has received 8.49 inches of rain since Oct. 1 (through Jan. 2); that’s 114% of average to the date for a normal Sacramento water year. Carmichael and Fair Oaks -- Kathy's neighborhood -- have received 9.37 inches of rain through Jan. 2, which is 117% of average to that date.

If taking garden notes about your own plantings, consider adding rain totals – especially if that precipitation (or lack thereof) is significant. Tracking precipitation comes in handy when trying to figure out what went wrong.