Finally, the bounty was here.
The West has seen snowfall blanketing hillsides, canyons, and peaks in recent months. This is a response to years of prayers and wishes in drought-stricken areas.
In some parts of central Sierra Nevada, almost 12 feet of snow fell within a week . The Brighton ski resort website in Utah said it succinctly: Season. Every.
When summer arrives, drought worries will be eased by the wet winter and the strong snowpack. Many places, including the Colorado Basin have suffered such severe water shortages that even a single season cannot prevent future crises.
The driving force behind many Western water supplies is snowpack, which provides for hydropower, agriculture, and drinking water, as well as winter recreation.
Robert Glennon is a University of Arizona professor emeritus who specializes in water policy and law. He said that the strong snowyear would not make any significant impact on the Colorado Basin’s multistate crises. This could prolong the time period before the critical thresholds are reached.
He said that if the states don’t agree to drastically change how much water they use, then the level in Mead or Powell will fall below the point where either dam can generate hydroelectric energy.” He was referring to Lake Mead or Lake Powell, which are the key reservoirs of the system. “We didn’t get into this problem in a year, and we won’t get out of it in a year.”
Nearly every part of the West has a snowpack that is above-average. Major watersheds in drought-stricken States like California, Utah, and Nevada have snowpacks that exceed 150% of normal for this time.
“It’s like the snow is right outside my window, I’m on the second floor of my house,” stated Theresa May Duggan (72), a community organizer living in Tahoe Vista, California near Lake Tahoe.
She added, “So, we’ve had some epic winters. But it went from epic and biblical a few weeks back.”
Paul Miller, a service coordination hydrologist for the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center said that the Colorado Basin regions have been experiencing seasons with the highest snowpack levels since records began to be kept. This goes back at least 60 years.
He said, “It’s welcome relief.” It doesn’t solve Colorado River Basin’s drought problem, but it is definitely beneficial.”
Read more about drought in the West
While drought conditions persist in large parts of the West, they are improving, according maps from the National Integrated Drought Information System . This system rates drought severity on a scale from “abnormally dry to “exceptional.”
Some areas of California, Nevada, and Utah may be removed from the drought map due to strong snowpack and a rain forecast for March. These seasonal outlooks were provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center. Others will likely see their rating upgraded.
California’s drought is over in certain areas. Jay Lund, vice director of watershed sciences at University of California, Davis, stated that the reservoirs will largely fill. “We will still see ecological problems in the forest, and with endangered fish species, for a while longer but I believe we are now into a more normal year.”
However, the snow season promises won’t solve long-term water issues in Western states. They still need to reduce their water use on a large scale.
He said that California’s groundwater supplies are constantly overdrawn each year.
Lund stated that almost every year in the Central Valley’s southern region, they pump more water than it recharges. This is a serious problem that will continue for the long-term. It will require some long-term water demand reductions.”
The Colorado River Basin is where overuse concerns are more pressing. States continue to negotiate how to reduce water use as the reservoir levels fall to alarming levels. The Colorado River is home to 40 million people. Its water supply has declined over the past 23 years due to drought and overuse.
The snowpack will give you a slight boost.
According to the Bureau of Reclamation, inflows into Lake Powell between February and July will be approximately 17% higher than average due to snow melting and draining through the river system. Powell is the largest and most significant reservoir in the Colorado River system. According to data from the bureau, the lake’s elevation is expected to rise by approximately 40 feet by July.
Miller stated that Lake Powell was currently at 23% of its average capacity. He said that if the forecast is correct, this figure could rise but not much.. “32% doesn’t seem like a lot, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
Seven states are currently negotiating for steep cuts to maintain the flow of the Colorado River. If the states are unable to reach an agreement, the Bureau of Reclamation may make its own cuts. Avoiding cuts could lead to a “dead pool”, when flow is restricted to lower areas because it cannot pass through dams.
Glennon stated that “substantial reductions are needed from all user groups,” and added that the U.S. supply each winter of leafy greens depends on Arizona’s farmers who depend on Colorado River water. “There is no salad if there isn’t water in the river.” All those fields are left to fallow.”
Duggan, a Tahoe resident, managed to leave her Tahoe home Wednesday afternoon in sunny conditions. Her “snow angels”, a group of workers she calls, cleared a path that ran from her front porch to her street. The walkway is surrounded by one-story snow walls.
She said that any inconvenience is worth it.
California’s water bank. We feel the responsibility. Nobody really complains about snow. It is so important. It fills the California’s thirst. Duggan stated that they were happy to see it.
She paused and said, “It’s getting a bit too much.”
