NID snow surveyors Thor Larsen and Jessica Erickson measure the snowpack at 7800-foot Webber Peak. (Photo by Dan Wentz)
GRASS VALLEY Mar. 2, 2010 - Although February was drier than usual, water content in the mountain snowpack remains in the average range, the Nevada Irrigation District reported Tuesday (Mar. 2).
In the official March 1 snow survey, NID snow surveyors measured an average 27.7 inches of water content, or 92 percent of the March 1 average, on five mountain courses at elevations of 4,850 feet to 7,800 feet.
"Although February was below average, I feel fortunate that the water content in the snowpack remains near average," said NID Operations Supervisor and snow surveyor Sue Sindt. "I am also pleased to see that there are more storms forecast for this week."
The Mar. 1 snow surveys showed NID's highest course, Webber Peak, at 7,800 feet, had 69.6 inches of snow with a water content of 23.8 inches. The English Mountain snow course (7,100 ft.) had 91.9 inches of snow with a water content of 35 inches.
Webber Lake (7,000 ft.) had 69.6 inches of snow with a water content of 23.8 inches. Findley Peak (6,500 ft.) had a snowpack of 82.8 inches and a 28.8-inch water content. Bowman Reservoir (5,650 ft.) had 63.3 inches of snow with a water content of 24.4 inches.
A sixth snow course, Chalk Bluff, at 4,850 feet on the Deer Creek watershed, had a 19.7-inch snowpack with a 9.3-inch water content (The Chalk Bluff snow course is not included in the five-course average).
Annual precipitation at NID's Bowman Reservoir (elev. 5,650 ft.) reached 37.56 inches as of Feb. 28, which equals 78 percent of the Mar. 1 average. February precipitation was measured at 7.66 inches, or 71 percent of the February average.
As of Feb. 28, NID water storage stood at 157,400 acre-feet, which equals 63 percent of capacity and 92 percent of average for the date.
A member of the California Cooperative Snow Survey, NID conducts three official snow surveys each year, in February, March and April. Results of the snow surveys are used to predict water availability locally and statewide.
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