Bay Area Rain On The Way, But California's Reservoirs Still Low
SACRAMENTO (KCBS)— There's rain on the way in the Bay Area's forecast, but experts say it won't be enough to end California's historic drought. The latest measurements show that the state's reservoirs remain at alarmingly low levels.
Doug Carlson with the State Department of Water Resources said it's a case of too little, too late, even if this last gasp of wet weather is expected to shower the area on and off for the next week or so.
"All of California's major reservoirs are still far below their historic average and even further below their capacities. For instance, Lake Shasta, which is the state's largest reservoir, is at 46 percent of capacity today and 58 percent of the historic average," Carlson said.
The data is grim across the board. Folsom Lake is just 42-percent full and Oroville only a few percentage points better at 46. Carlson said the Sierra snowpack water content is just 24 percent of normal and even with some major snow expected this week, it's not likely to move up very much.
His advice: Californians need to continue to conserve and remain water-wise until next winter because the drought is here to stay. He said he hopes next winter is a lot wetter than this one.