Current and recent storms have improved water supply conditions locally and in areas of Northern California where roughly half of our imported supply originates.
Here in Southern California, last month was the wettest December since 2010.
However, our rainfall totals currently stand at about half of a typical year.
Storms predicted for this weekend are expected to raise the total significantly.
This is welcome news considering that 2010-2015 were the driest five years ever documented in Los Angeles.
Local rainfall helps to keep sprinklers turned off.
Together with recycled water, rainfall helps to replenish the local aquifers that sustain groundwater pumping, one of our important local water supplies.
The story this winter in Northern California has been of above-average rainfall, but below average snowpack.
While rain helps to fill reservoirs, there is a limit to what reservoirs can handle over a short period of time, given that they need to prevent flooding.
Snowpack is important to keep reservoirs full into the summer months.
The first manual snow survey of the winter was taken Tuesday.
Expectations are that the snowpack is reaching average levels, with several large storms providing four to five feet of snow in some areas.
While above-average rain and snowfall this winter season is a good sign, it will not erase the impact of the state’s six-year severe drought.
About 73 percent of California remains in drought conditions.
Climate across the southwest is increasingly unpredictable and extreme, especially in terms of extended dry periods.
With California’s climate variability in mind, water conservation and new supply development will remain West Basin Municipal Water District’s long term strategy to water reliability.
Mr. Houston, a director of the West Basin Municipal Water District, may be contacted at info@scotthouston.org
His website: www.scotthouston.org
West Basin MWD: www.westbasin.org
