SACRAMENTO, Calif — The third snow survey of the 2019-2020 winter season from Phillips Station shows we are 47% below the average for this time of the year.
The manual snow survey recorded 29 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 11.5 inches of water.
SIERRA SNOWPACK NUMBERS ARE ON THE DECLINE
Snow survey readings have been taken from this location since 1941. The readings are taken near the beginning of the month from January to April and sometimes May.
In total, there are 260 survey locations throughout California which generate the numbers for the Sierra Snowpack. As of Feb. 27, the Central and Southern Sierra are below average for this time of year.
RESERVOIR LEVELS ARE HEALTHY THANKS TO LAST WINTER
Even though the snowpack is below average, there are some things working in the state's favor. First, reservoir levels are pretty good thanks to the above-average snowfall during the 2018-2019 winter season.
According to the Department of Water Resources, out of the 154 biggest reservoirs in the state, we're 104% of average.
CONSERVATION IS KEY
Last but not least, regardless of the above-average reservoir levels we should always stress the importance of conservation because it's not if but when our next drought will happen.
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