SACRAMENTO, Calif — The California Department of Water Resources increased the expected water allocation figures Wednesday by 5% from 30% to 35%, translating to an additional 210,000 acre feet of water for Californians.
This bump is due to the large snowpack sitting in the Sierra, mainly from the late December and January storm parade.
The 35% allocation forecast takes into account snowpack and reservoir storage from those storms, current hydrology conditions, spring runoff forecasts, and an anticipation of dry conditions ahead, according to DWR.
“We’re hopeful that more storms this week are a sign that the wet weather will return, but there remains a chance that 2023 will be a below average water year in the northern Sierra,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Careful planning and the use of advanced forecasting tools will enable the Department to balance the needs of our communities, agriculture, and the environment should dry conditions continue this spring and into next year.”
The lowest water allocation was in Dec. 2021, when 0% was allocated, designating water use only to meet human health and safety needs.
A very active few days is ahead for Northern California with a myriad of weather conditions expected from thunderstorms to blizzards.
The storm system will provide beneficial rainfall to the valley along with low elevation snow that will further boost the snowpack as the melting season nears. Up to 4 feet of snow is expected in the Sierra along with 0.5-1.5" of rain in the valley.
