Thursday, May 15, 2014

[californiadisasters] Snow survey results show depth of drought




  • Snow survey results recorded on Mt. Shasta at the beginning of the month reveal some of the lowest averages in the history of the program, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

    • Posted May. 14, 2014

      Siskiyou County, Calif.
      Snow survey results recorded on Mt. Shasta at the beginning of the month reveal some of the lowest averages in the history of the program, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Klamath National Forest results also show snow depth and water content at zero percent of normal, compared to historical values for May.
      Shasta-Trinity National Forest
      Between April 24 and May 3, the Shasta McCloud Management Unit on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest completed the final snow survey for 2014. All scheduled courses were sampled.
      This is one of the lowest averages in the history of the Mt. Shasta snow survey program. Snowpack this month was 18 percent of normal with water content at 19 percent of normal.
      In 1939 and 1977, snow courses did measure lower. In 1977, there was no recordable snow at Horse Camp; and in 1939 only 13.8 inches were measured at the course.
      All the same, this is a significant drought year and will have considerable impacts on water use for agriculture, power generation, personal use and recreation.
      This is the 3rd year of below normal snowfall, impacts to forest health and the ecosystem may be far reaching. Wildfire danger will also be considerable as live and dead fuel moisture content will reach its low earlier.
      With little to no snowpack above 5,000 feet elevation, fire danger will be considerable in the high country.
      As always, extreme precaution should be exercised to reduce the risk of wildfire.
      Klamath National Forest
      Forest Service personnel have completed the May 1 snow surveys on the Salmon Scott Ranger District.
      This month's survey indicates that the snow depth and water content are extremely below average, with snow depth at zero percent of normal and water content at zero percent of normal, compared to historical values for May.
      The snowpack – often called California's largest reservoir – normally provides about one-third of the water used by cities and farms as it melts into streams and reservoirs in spring and early summer.
      California's reservoirs will not be significantly replenished by a melting snowpack this spring and summer.
      On April 25, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an executive order to strengthen the state's ability to manage water and habitat effectively in drought conditions; and called on all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water.
      Visit Drought.Ca.Gov for an update on how the state is dealing with the drought.
http://www.mtshastanews.com/article/20140514/NEWS/140519847
--


__._,_.___


Be sure to check out our Links Section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/links
Please join our Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters_discussion/ for topical but extended discussions started here or for less topical but nonetheless relevant messages.




__,_._,___
at

No comments:

Post a Comment