California Department of Water Resources Third Snow Survey Set for March 2, 2015

Houseboats Gather on Lake Don Pedro During February 2015

February 26, 2015 - SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct this winter’s third manual snow survey on March 3 just off Highway 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe Road approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento. 

Recent electronic readings have revealed a trend of declining water content in the snowpack this winter. Today, the statewide water content is just 19 percent of the historical average for the date. The season’s first two manual surveys on December 30 and January 29 found a belownormal snowpack. The statewide water equivalent was just 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively, of the historical averages on those dates. 

Most of the state’s precipitation normally falls in the north and is collected there for distribution throughout California. The north has had only two storm series this wet season, in mid-December and early February; both were warm storms and did not produce significant snowfall. The northern Sierra snowpack’s water equivalent today is only 17 percent of the February 26 historical average.