The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) just conducted a new snowpack survey in Mount Rose.
Mount Rose is one of 90 snowpack telemetry sites, also known as SNOTEL, that helps figure out how much water the Truckee and Tahoe Basin will get in the warmer months.
Jeff Anderson, Hydrologist for NRCS, says, "We've gotten through the big three snow accumulation months of December, January, February; so March is the last one to go."
Anderson says today's survey shows the snow is 93 inches deep, which equates to over 29 inches of melted water. This means the average water content is at 92%. That's more than double since the February 1st reading at 14 inches.
Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) says we're falling behind a little bit for this time of year but it's not terrible, especially with Lake Tahoe already three-quarters full.
Bill Hauck, Water Supervisor for TMWA, says, "Lake Tahoe's projected to rise another foot. So that means Tahoe goes into the summer a half a foot from full, all the other reservoirs on the Truckee River system are going be quite full going into the summer. So, we're really in a good position from a water supply perspective."
The Natural Resources Conservation Service says we'll need a couple more big storms in March to push eastern Sierra snowpacks to normal peak amounts.
And Truckee Meadows Water Authority says even if we don't get any more storms for the rest of the season, we'll still have a pretty decent year of water supply.Â
