Sparse Snowpack Worsens California Drought Crisis | National Geographic

this is a pretty stunning example of

this is a pretty stunning example of just how little snow we’ve had this

just how little snow we’ve had this

just how little snow we’ve had this season we’ve got a you know a patch here

season we’ve got a you know a patch here

season we’ve got a you know a patch here and a few patches up in the trees but in

and a few patches up in the trees but in

and a few patches up in the trees but in a normal year we’re at about six

a normal year we’re at about six

a normal year we’re at about six thousand feet in the Sierra mid February

thousand feet in the Sierra mid February

thousand feet in the Sierra mid February we should first of all we should be on

we should first of all we should be on

we should first of all we should be on on skis and not walking and there should

on skis and not walking and there should

on skis and not walking and there should be three to four feet of snow at this

be three to four feet of snow at this

be three to four feet of snow at this location we’re basically looking at

location we’re basically looking at

location we’re basically looking at virtually a dry watershed at this point

virtually a dry watershed at this point

virtually a dry watershed at this point we depend upon the snowpack to act as a

we depend upon the snowpack to act as a

we depend upon the snowpack to act as a gigantic reservoir that in ordinary

gigantic reservoir that in ordinary

gigantic reservoir that in ordinary years accumulates during the fall and

years accumulates during the fall and

years accumulates during the fall and winter and then gradually melts off in

winter and then gradually melts off in

winter and then gradually melts off in the spring and summer and we punishes

the spring and summer and we punishes

the spring and summer and we punishes the water that we’ve taken out of the

the water that we’ve taken out of the

the water that we’ve taken out of the constructed reservoirs the dilemma that

constructed reservoirs the dilemma that

constructed reservoirs the dilemma that we’re facing this year is with such a

we’re facing this year is with such a

we’re facing this year is with such a sparse snowpack and lack of

sparse snowpack and lack of

sparse snowpack and lack of precipitation throughout the season

precipitation throughout the season

precipitation throughout the season already our reservoir storage is already

already our reservoir storage is already

already our reservoir storage is already about three-quarters of what it should

about three-quarters of what it should

about three-quarters of what it should be normally we would be under water here

be normally we would be under water here

be normally we would be under water here and the top of the lake would be above

and the top of the lake would be above

and the top of the lake would be above the top of that point behind us the lake

the top of that point behind us the lake

the top of that point behind us the lake is very important for not only providing

is very important for not only providing

is very important for not only providing water for the local communities around

water for the local communities around

water for the local communities around but it also provides a habitat for the

but it also provides a habitat for the

but it also provides a habitat for the fisheries downstream and helps balance

fisheries downstream and helps balance

fisheries downstream and helps balance the salinity in the San Joaquin Delta

the concept of an atmospheric River is

the concept of an atmospheric River is where you have a Arctic or a cold air

where you have a Arctic or a cold air

where you have a Arctic or a cold air mass that in trains or brings moisture

mass that in trains or brings moisture

mass that in trains or brings moisture up from the tropics and if you look on a

up from the tropics and if you look on a

up from the tropics and if you look on a satellite or you know a radar detection

satellite or you know a radar detection

satellite or you know a radar detection it’s as though there was a massive River

it’s as though there was a massive River

it’s as though there was a massive River directed at the west coast and it can

directed at the west coast and it can

directed at the west coast and it can bring phenomenal amounts of

bring phenomenal amounts of

bring phenomenal amounts of precipitation in a very short period of

precipitation in a very short period of

precipitation in a very short period of time November and December of 2012 we

time November and December of 2012 we

time November and December of 2012 we had a couple large atmospheric River

had a couple large atmospheric River

had a couple large atmospheric River events and had us on a strong start to

events and had us on a strong start to

events and had us on a strong start to the water year with the new year of 2013

the water year with the new year of 2013

the water year with the new year of 2013 that stopped and we proceeded to have

that stopped and we proceeded to have

that stopped and we proceeded to have the driest calendar year in 120 years

the driest calendar year in 120 years

the driest calendar year in 120 years climate is extremely variable so we have

climate is extremely variable so we have

climate is extremely variable so we have prolonged droughts you know over a

prolonged droughts you know over a

prolonged droughts you know over a decade or several decades and in some

decade or several decades and in some

decade or several decades and in some cases over a century and then we there’s

cases over a century and then we there’s

cases over a century and then we there’s alternating with periods where it’s much

alternating with periods where it’s much

alternating with periods where it’s much wetter and we have big floods because

wetter and we have big floods because

wetter and we have big floods because we’ve we see a recurring pattern of

we’ve we see a recurring pattern of

we’ve we see a recurring pattern of droughts over the last few thousand

droughts over the last few thousand

droughts over the last few thousand years we can predict that they probably

years we can predict that they probably

years we can predict that they probably will recur again and we may even have

will recur again and we may even have

will recur again and we may even have entered one the lack of snowpack as we

entered one the lack of snowpack as we

entered one the lack of snowpack as we move through the season is going to

move through the season is going to

move through the season is going to create real problems come the summer and

create real problems come the summer and

create real problems come the summer and the hot weather when we’re coming into

the hot weather when we’re coming into

the hot weather when we’re coming into this year with a soil moisture deficit

this year with a soil moisture deficit

this year with a soil moisture deficit and as we don’t accumulate don’t replace

and as we don’t accumulate don’t replace

and as we don’t accumulate don’t replace that then this coming summer it can be

that then this coming summer it can be

that then this coming summer it can be pretty pretty grim