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Bonanza Photo - Carrie Richards Although the Tahoe Basin has not seen a significant amount of snow this year, experts say low lake levels are nothing to worry about.
Incline residents should not expect any snow until February, though temperatures will continue to be below 20 at night, National Weather Service officials said this week.
For Incline resident and owner of Tahoe Workz snow removal service, Jeff Ledson is staying positive and doing his "nightly snow dances."
"A year like this is a little tough," Ledson explained. "Nature has its course and it's all part of the cycle. Last March, I was out 22 times alone, this year I am twiddling my thumbs. We are really hoping it does snow, not only for my business, but for the lake and everything around it."
Tahoe is about 40 percent of what is considered normal snow pack at this time of year, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian O'Hara said.
For Incline resident and owner of Tahoe Workz snow removal service, Jeff Ledson is staying positive and doing his "nightly snow dances."
"A year like this is a little tough," Ledson explained. "Nature has its course and it's all part of the cycle. Last March, I was out 22 times alone, this year I am twiddling my thumbs. We are really hoping it does snow, not only for my business, but for the lake and everything around it."
Tahoe is about 40 percent of what is considered normal snow pack at this time of year, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian O'Hara said.
"We still have half of winter to go and will hopefully have some good storms in February and March," O'Hara said. "Although there has been sun, the temperatures have been cold which doesn't allow for much melting. This is all typical for this time of year but overall if the high pressure continues to block the storm systems it can't be good for the water supply."
At present, there is no need to panic about low water levels, director of Tahoe Environmental Resource Center and UC Davis researcher Geoff Schladow said.
"It takes two or three continuous years for there to be any concern about critically low water levels," Schladow said. "The last two years have been strong winters. The lake's water master had a pretty good idea of what the water level should be in the beginning of winter.
"Although the lake is being evaporated and there is little run off into the lake, if this continues we may just see more beach this summer - but this is only January."
Water conservation is always an issue and this weather is a reminder that our resources are limited, IVGID public works director Dan St.John said. "This is why IVGID continues to promote water conservation for in-house use and landscapes. The board has made this concern a long term strategy and priority."
At present, there is no need to panic about low water levels, director of Tahoe Environmental Resource Center and UC Davis researcher Geoff Schladow said.
"It takes two or three continuous years for there to be any concern about critically low water levels," Schladow said. "The last two years have been strong winters. The lake's water master had a pretty good idea of what the water level should be in the beginning of winter.
"Although the lake is being evaporated and there is little run off into the lake, if this continues we may just see more beach this summer - but this is only January."
Water conservation is always an issue and this weather is a reminder that our resources are limited, IVGID public works director Dan St.John said. "This is why IVGID continues to promote water conservation for in-house use and landscapes. The board has made this concern a long term strategy and priority."
For more information on weather conditions call (775) 673-8130.
Climate change
Climate change is impacting the Sierra now and future impacts could be catastrophic.
The Sierra Nevada supplies 65 percent of California's developed water, as well as almost all the water to Northwestern Nevada. California and Northwestern Nevada have organized a vast water delivery system for agriculture and urban residents that is highly dependent on the Sierra and particularly on the Sierra snow pack.
Climate change
Climate change is impacting the Sierra now and future impacts could be catastrophic.
The Sierra Nevada supplies 65 percent of California's developed water, as well as almost all the water to Northwestern Nevada. California and Northwestern Nevada have organized a vast water delivery system for agriculture and urban residents that is highly dependent on the Sierra and particularly on the Sierra snow pack.
There are two major water delivery systems in California - the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Thirteen Sierra watersheds supply the Central Valley Water Project, while the State Water Project is highly dependent on the Sierra's Feather and Kern River watersheds. In addition, many local water projects supply other parts of the California, such as the Tuolumne River supplying San Francisco, the Truckee River supplying Reno and the Mokelumne River supplying the East Bay.
Climate change will significantly change the way California and Nevada's water supply systems are operated because the largest reservoirs of water in both states are the Sierra snow pack, which feeds all of the watersheds mentioned above.
Leading scientists agree that a rise in temperature will occur even under the best emission reduction scenarios. This warmer temperature will result in a 36 percent reduction of Sierra snow in fifty years and nearly half of its current amount by 2090. Looked at another way, the State of California predicts that there will be a 1500-foot rise in the snow level over the next 90 years.
Snow stores water over the winter and then melts and flows down from April through July to refill storage reservoirs. There is further evidence that the raising of the snow level will increase the incidence of "rain on snow" events at critical mid-elevation Sierra forests, increasing the peak flows and flooding associated with storms in the winter when we have no excess storage capacity. Furthermore, the increase in winter peak flows combined with the compounding effects of the planned clear-cutting in the region will make it difficult to gauge the timing of water releases from reservoirs.
- information was provided by www.sierranevadaalliance.org.
Climate change will significantly change the way California and Nevada's water supply systems are operated because the largest reservoirs of water in both states are the Sierra snow pack, which feeds all of the watersheds mentioned above.
Leading scientists agree that a rise in temperature will occur even under the best emission reduction scenarios. This warmer temperature will result in a 36 percent reduction of Sierra snow in fifty years and nearly half of its current amount by 2090. Looked at another way, the State of California predicts that there will be a 1500-foot rise in the snow level over the next 90 years.
Snow stores water over the winter and then melts and flows down from April through July to refill storage reservoirs. There is further evidence that the raising of the snow level will increase the incidence of "rain on snow" events at critical mid-elevation Sierra forests, increasing the peak flows and flooding associated with storms in the winter when we have no excess storage capacity. Furthermore, the increase in winter peak flows combined with the compounding effects of the planned clear-cutting in the region will make it difficult to gauge the timing of water releases from reservoirs.
- information was provided by www.sierranevadaalliance.org.
