Pioneer Press: Snow still short

Snow still short

Pioneer Press
Fort Jones, CA
March 14, 2007
Page A1, Column 2

The snow surveys are in and it doesn't look good

Fort Jones - Personnel of the Salmon River and Scott River Ranger
Districts recently completed the March 1, 2007 snow surveys.

The second snow survey measurements of 2007 indicate the water
content of the snowpack in the Scott River basin varies from 56
percent of average in the southern area above Callahan at the higher
elevations, to 57 percent of average in the area west of Etna. Heavy
precipitation over the last two weeks had a positive effect on the
depth of the snowpack, as there has been roughly a three-fold
increase in the snow depths. However, due to the dryness of the
snowfall at the higher elevations, the equivalent water contents have
increased only slightly since the February 1 survey. The snow pack
is well short of average in terms of equivalent water content.

Snow measurements are taken in cooperation with the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR) as part of the California
Cooperative Snow Survey Program. Information submitted by many
different cooperators is used by the DWR to forecast water runoff for
agriculture, power generation and stream flow releases. Measurements
will be taken monthly through May 1. For a complete summary of all
the snow courses measured in northern California by DWR, please visit
their web site at:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/courses.html

Those participating in the March snow survey include: Carol Ballow,
Mark Young, Jerry Padilla, Sue Tebbe, and Phil McNeal.

Snow Course Measurements for March 2007
March measurements received as of Sunday, March 11.
Snow depth and water content are in inches. April 1 averages are
based on measurements made during years 1951-2000. Contact Dave Hart
for more information.

Klamath Basin Precipitation for March 2007
Data Site Name           Elev.    W/C    % of Avg.    Total Prec.    % of Avg
Summer Rim              7100       16.6       99               17.9              99
Sevenmile Marsh        5700        30.3    106               49.9            107
Cold Springs Camp     5940       31.6    112                45.8            114
Crazyman Flat            6180        14.8     90                  24.7             *
Annie Springs             6010        36.1    101                50.7              *
Fourmile Lake             6000        24.7    85                  42.8            108
Strawberry                  5760        1.4      27                  12.4             83
Quartz Mountain          5720       1.1       44                   8.9              64
Diamond Lake             5315      13.2      89                  38.4            112
Billie Creek Divide        5300     21.5      96                  41.8            113
Crowder Flat                5100        .5       *                     8.1               *
Taylor Butte                 5030       5.8    112                   13.4             87
Gerber Reservoir          4850         .9       *                   9.3               *
Chemult Alternate        4850       6.3      80                  18.9              94
Basin wide percent of average        96        103

Name    Elev.    Depth    Water Content    Density    April 1 Average
Shasta River Basin
Parks Creek    6,700    88.0    28.0    32%    37.4    75%
Sweetwater    5,850    46.0    23.0    50%    13.7    168%
Scott River Basin
Middle Boulder 1    6,600    76.0    24.7    32%    32.4    76%
Middle Boulder 3    6,200    69.0    18.0    26%    28.3    64%
Dynamite Meadow    5,700    48.0    12.0    25%    18.6    65%
Swampy John    5,500    93.0    20.5    22%    34.0    60%
Sacramento River Basin
Mount Shasta    7,900    113.7    37.2    33%    53.6    69%
Sand Flat (Course)    6,800    91.8    29.2    32%    43.6    67%
Slate Creek    5,700    Scheduled for survey by Weaverville Ranger Dist.
Pit River Basin
Thousand Lakes    6,500    69.0    21.0    30%    34.6    61%
Adin Mountain    6,200    30.9      7.6    25%    12.5    61%
New Manzanita Lake    5,900    26.7    10.1    38%      8.0    126%
Summary of Snow Surveys
Region    Courses Avg     WC % Average    April 1 % Average
North Coast    21.0"     85%     94%
Sacramento    18.8"     61%     70%
San Joaquin Valley    18.6"     59%     68%
Tulare Lake    12.2"     50%     56%
North Lahontan    16.4"     58%     65%
South Lahontan    8.1"     37%     44%
Statewide Average (weighted)     60%     68%
* This course not included in river, basin or Statewide computations.