OT: What a ski season out west...

[bwifan]

Watched my friends on the webcam skin up Alta to Catherine's this morning... nuking snow out there still today... Snowbird reporting 707 inches for the season so far... A-Basin getting snow with Breck and both extending their season's into June. Mammoth in Cali going strong. Just a wild season out there with winter not wanting to end. (Please no global warming discussions in this thread).

 

[BBrown]

Watched my friends on the webcam skin up Alta to Catherine's this morning... nuking snow out there still today... Snowbird reporting 707 inches for the season so far... A-Basin getting snow with Breck and both extending their season's into June. Mammoth in Cali going strong. Just a wild season out there with winter not wanting to end. (Please no global warming discussions in this thread).

That has to be great for the water tables for all of CA.

 

[roswelllion]

That has to be great for the water tables for all of CA.

Huge, unfortunately not enough reservoir capacity to take advantage.

 

[BBrown]

Huge, unfortunately not enough reservoir capacity to take advantage.

Oh. Damn thats too bad, did not know that.

 

[roswelllion]

Watched my friends on the webcam skin up Alta to Catherine's this morning... nuking snow out there still today... Snowbird reporting 707 inches for the season so far... A-Basin getting snow with Breck and both extending their season's into June. Mammoth in Cali going strong. Just a wild season out there with winter not wanting to end. (Please no global warming discussions in this thread).

wow we were in Park City in . mid March and they were rockin. Hard to imagine 700 inches at Snowbird. When we left Ca in March they were forecasting Mammoth open through 4th of July.

 

[MontereyLion]

Strangest May I have ever seen. I settled down here in 1975. From the end of April to mid October we get very little rain. Not this year. Also we just about never have to use our heater after May 1st. We have used it nearly every day so far this May. This has definately been the wettest and coldest May in years. Breaking records. Good for skiing and a great drought buster.

 

[bwifan]

Huge, unfortunately not enough reservoir capacity to take advantage.

Most I have read in Cali I believe resevoir's are at 100% capacity or just above. Years like this wishing they had more holding capacity.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Most I have read in Cali I believe resevoir's are at 100% capacity or just above. Years like this wishing they had more holding capacity.

Reservoirs rarely are at 100% of capacity, or above that. That creates management problems if more storms hit the drainage.

Below is a map of the storage levels at major reservoirs in CA, as of this morning. As it shows, none of them are at 100% of capacity. What makes it somewhat confusing is that all but 1 of them is above 100% of Historical Average.

Edit: I can't get the map to display. You should be able to access it at THIS LINK. If that link doesn't work, then CLICK HERE, and then click on the map image to get an update for today.

 

[NittanyLion15]

Most I have read in Cali I believe resevoir's are at 100% capacity or just above. Years like this wishing they had more holding capacity.

Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[bwifan]

Reservoirs rarely are at 100% of capacity, or above that. That creates management problems if more storms hit the drainage.

Below is a map of the storage levels at major reservoirs in CA, as of this morning. As it shows, none of them are at 100% of capacity. What makes it somewhat confusing is that all but 1 of them is above 100% of Historical Average.

Edit: I can't get the map to display. You should be able to access it at THIS LINK. If that link doesn't work, then CLICK HERE, and then click on the map image to get an update for today.

Thanks Tom! I think also if memory served me correct maybe the articles I have seen were taking into account run off when the spring melt occurs looking at the water density in the snow pack. (at this point if the spring melt ever occurs... LOL)

 

[interrobang]

Huge, unfortunately not enough reservoir capacity to take advantage.

And this is the biggest problem. So many new water consumers, no new reservoirs being built

 

[bwifan]

A-Basin just announced open through June 14/15/16... their CFO said with more snow in the forecast they are looking at and at this point likely staying open later than those dates announced ...

 

[MontereyLion]

Reservoirs rarely are at 100% of capacity, or above that. That creates management problems if more storms hit the drainage.

Below is a map of the storage levels at major reservoirs in CA, as of this morning. As it shows, none of them are at 100% of capacity. What makes it somewhat confusing is that all but 1 of them is above 100% of Historical Average.

Edit: I can't get the map to display. You should be able to access it at THIS LINK. If that link doesn't work, then CLICK HERE, and then click on the map image to get an update for today.

We drove passed San Lois Dam about the beginning of April to go visit our daughter in the foothills. That Dam was completely 99% full. To the tippy top. That is not a run off Dam. Instead they take and pump water up into it to store for the summer months for agriculture. Funny thing....my wife drives by it last week and she said it is way down from full.

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Interesting that California has been wetter then normal for most of the past 500 years. California was way wetter then normal from the mid 1960s to 1998. That is when the huge population growth happened here. Then suddenly we had nearly 20 years of below normal rainfall. California got use to enough rain and water. That changed in a blink. Two of the last three years have been above normal. Now what? They absolutely need to build more Dams. With the enviromentalists and their lawyers having the upper hand, I doubt that will happen. So we wait for the next drought. It will be here soon enough.

 

[WDLion]

Southern California gets it's water from Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Hopefully the snow in its watershed brings it up some.

 

[interrobang]

Lake Mead has different issues. Then again a lot goes back to not building new reservoirs.

 

[mjh218]

It was by far the wettest weather I have seen in SD since moving there in 2007. It has rained numerous times in May which is not common. Mammoth keeps getting dumped on. Heard they are going to be open through July 4th and maybe later. Real contrast from a few years ago where they barely got enough snow to cover the slopes

 

[loosey goosey]

I've have a friend that did 110 days of laps on the Highlands Bowl in Aspen,pretty funny because he would do 50 push ups each time at the top.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Southern California gets it's water from Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Hopefully the snow in its watershed brings it up some.

The current reservoir levels for Lake Mead are shown at THIS LINK.

It's currently at 1,087.39 feet above sea level. That's higher than it's been on this date in recent years, but still not very high. If it drops to 1,050 (or below), they have to stop the hydroelectric generation at Hoover Dam. Its maximum capacity is 1,221.4 feet. If it drops to 895 (or below), then the authorities stop providing water for drinking and farming.

 

[MontereyLion]

In August of 1983 the wife and I took a vacation to Vegas. That prior winter was the great El Nino of 82/83. We took a side trip to go see the Hoover Dam. For the first time in years Lake Mead was full and they we letting water out of the side spill ways. It was a sight to see. That summer was the last time Lake Mead was full.

 

[PSUArnie]

Watched my friends on the webcam skin up Alta to Catherine's this morning... nuking snow out there still today... Snowbird reporting 707 inches for the season so far... A-Basin getting snow with Breck and both extending their season's into June. Mammoth in Cali going strong. Just a wild season out there with winter not wanting to end. (Please no global warming discussions in this thread).

Well, unfortunately they only get to enjoy it for another 12 years! Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[TheGLOV]

Watched my friends on the webcam skin up Alta to Catherine's this morning... nuking snow out there still today... Snowbird reporting 707 inches for the season so far... A-Basin getting snow with Breck and both extending their season's into June. Mammoth in Cali going strong. Just a wild season out there with winter not wanting to end. (Please no global warming discussions in this thread).

I live in Wyoming sir; about 2 1/2 hours away from Jackson Hole, Wy.

They have had MORE snow than they know what to do with.

The skiers are just loving it.

 

[TheGLOV]

In August of 1983 the wife and I took a vacation to Vegas. That prior winter was the great El Nino of 82/83. We took a side trip to go see the Hoover Dam. For the first time in years Lake Mead was full and they we letting water out of the side spill ways. It was a sight to see. That summer was the last time Lake Mead was full.

It might have been also the last time the Rio Grande flowed directly into the Gulf of Mexico.

Currently it evaporates or ends about 5 - 10 miles prior I've been told.

 

[FightOnState]

Huge, unfortunately not enough reservoir capacity to take advantage.

Oh. Damn thats too bad, did not know that.

Damn Tour Guide

 

[bwifan]

Just nuking snow on Alta/Snowbird webcams... Snowbird now up to 711 inches for the season... crazy ski season.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Most I have read in Cali I believe resevoir's are at 100% capacity or just above. Years like this wishing they had more holding capacity.

I thought that was never again going to happen based on the reports a few years ago.

That is tremendous.

LdN

 

[interrobang]

It might have been also the last time the Rio Grande flowed directly into the Gulf of Mexico.

Currently it evaporates or ends about 5 - 10 miles prior I've been told.

And that's due to all the agricultural diversions of the river

 

[MattTX]

Great season this year. Flip side is just shoveled almost a foot of snow this Tuesday.

 

[roswelllion]

Thanks Tom! I think also if memory served me correct maybe the articles I have seen were taking into account run off when the spring melt occurs looking at the water capacity in the snow pack. (at this point if the spring melt ever occurs... LOL)

I believe you are correct BWI. We spend summer and winter in SoCal and i recall before we left many were lamenting rather than store and use the spring melt much of it was running straight into the ocean. I think i read there have been no new reservoir's since 1987 despite a huge increase in population. The reason I believe was 1. regulation - of course this is Ca. and 2. many felt the state was in a permanent drought and there was no need for more as they couldn't even fill what they had.

 

[BBG65]

I'm not a skier, but travel to Colorado and Wyoming to hunt. The downside of all that snow is that it takes a toll on the big game herds. Bad winters can decimate elk and deer in certain areas. Gunnison, Colo. seems to be one of the more vulnerable areas.

 

[Lion-skier]

I believe you are correct BWI. We spend summer and winter in SoCal and i recall before we left many were lamenting rather than store and use the spring melt much of it was running straight into the ocean. I think i read there have been no new reservoir's since 1987 despite a huge increase in population. The reason I believe was 1. regulation - of course this is Ca. and 2. many felt the state was in a permanent drought and there was no need for more as they couldn't even fill what they had.

This is just not valid information. Every river worth damming in California has been dammed and some that were not worth it were dammed anyway. The fact is there are over 1,500 dams in California. They have about used all the good dam sites. There are places you can put reservoirs but the average amount of annual water yield is relatively low making them not cost effective. Water sales are how the dams mostly get paid for.

The argument that water is just wasting away into the ocean is not valid either. A dam has to be financially viable to make sense in the long run. The runoff that does not get collected does not amount to a large enough amount of water to even come close to justifying recapturing it economically. If reservoirs do not fill up often enough, then there not close to paying for themselves. There is plenty of research and information about California's water situation, unfortunately most that discuss this topic are willfully misinformed.

 

[NewEra 2014]

We drove passed San Lois Dam about the beginning of April to go visit our daughter in the foothills. That Dam was completely 99% full. To the tippy top. That is not a run off Dam. Instead they take and pump water up into it to store for the summer months for agriculture. Funny thing....my wife drives by it last week and she said it is way down from full.

Interesting that California has been wetter then normal for most of the past 500 years. California was way wetter then normal from the mid 1960s to 1998. That is when the huge population growth happened here. Then suddenly we had nearly 20 years of below normal rainfall. California got use to enough rain and water. That changed in a blink. Two of the last three years have been above normal. Now what? They absolutely need to build more Dams. With the enviromentalists and their lawyers having the upper hand, I doubt that will happen. So we wait for the next drought. It will be here soon enough.

Any word on how Oroville Dam is holding up? I thought that dam had some serious structural issues in the recent past. Is it fixed?

 

[NittanyLion15]

Any word on how Oroville Dam is holding up? I thought that dam had some serious structural issues in the recent past. Is it fixed?

For now... They barely had the reconstruction complete in time... or so they say.
Ever since everything on the news became breaking news, it's hard to tell how close the project was to missing the mark.

 

[MontereyLion]

Any word on how Oroville Dam is holding up? I thought that dam had some serious structural issues in the recent past. Is it fixed?

Fixed. I took some crap here 2 years ago when I predicted it would cost a billion dollars to repair. Last I heard the number is 1.2 billion. Holy crap.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Most I have read in Cali I believe resevoir's are at 100% capacity or just above. Years like this wishing they had more holding capacity.

They are strengthening some of the reservoirs/dams so that they can hold a higher percentage of their capacity, as opposed to releasing water during the early spring months in anticipation of additonal inflows from snow melt. Unfortunately, we have to deal with the risks of seismic activity out here as well. All of that being said, there are several really large reservoirs in this state. See below (I believe the notation "mi squared" stands for million acre feet)::


California/
Water reservoir Lakes (by Area)

Shasta Lake
46.87 mi²

Lake Almanor
43.75 mi²

Clear Lake
Reservoir
40.25 mi²

Lake
Berryessa
32.34 mi²

Lake Havasu
30.16 mi²

Lake Oroville
25 mi²

Don Pedro
Reservoir
20.31 mi²

San Luis
Reservoir
19.84 mi²

New Melones
Lake
19.53 mi²

Folsom Lake
17.89 mi²

Lake Isabella
17.19 mi²

Lake McClure
10.94 mi²
There are a ton of additional reservoirs. I just cut it off at reservoirs holding 10 million acre feet or more.

 

[Rhino80]

I live on the Western Slope in Colorado. We've had a week straight of rain in the valleys and snow at elevation. The Colorado river is just about to the top of its banks. Great news after the last few years.

 

[MontereyLion]

A foot of snow expected above 7,000 in the Sierras this weekend. Mammoth Mountain has extended their ski season until August.

 

[roswelllion]

This is just not valid information. Every river worth damming in California has been dammed and some that were not worth it were dammed anyway. The fact is there are over 1,500 dams in California. They have about used all the good dam sites. There are places you can put reservoirs but the average amount of annual water yield is relatively low making them not cost effective. Water sales are how the dams mostly get paid for.

The argument that water is just wasting away into the ocean is not valid either. A dam has to be financially viable to make sense in the long run. The runoff that does not get collected does not amount to a large enough amount of water to even come close to justifying recapturing it economically. If reservoirs do not fill up often enough, then there not close to paying for themselves. There is plenty of research and information about California's water situation, unfortunately most that discuss this topic are willfully misinformed.

You are much more knowledgeable than I on the subject but I did read they passed Prop 1 in 2014 that funded multi billions for new dams but red tape and opposition has stopped any building. I also read that 100,000’s of cubic feet of storm water in the urban areas goes straight to ocean. The article inferred this should be somehow captured. With the season we have had if you are right Ca should be in good shape for a few years at least.

 

[Lion-skier]

You are much more knowledgeable than I on the subject but I did read they passed Prop 1 in 2014 that funded multi billions for new dams but red tape and opposition has stopped any building. I also read that 100,000’s of cubic feet of storm water in the urban areas goes straight to ocean. The article inferred this should be somehow captured. With the season we have had if you are right Ca should be in good shape for a few years at least.

California had a great winter for the snow pack. There was very little melting during the winter and we had record low sunny days and temps in the Sierra's. This combined with above average snowfall produced a snow pack around 180-190% of normal. From what I've read some reservoirs approached 90% capacity. It was definitely a much needed winter but the only worry now is too much brush growth, creating fuel for fires when the Santa Ana's start later in the year.

 

[Lion-skier]

Southern California gets it's water from Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Hopefully the snow in its watershed brings it up some.

Southern California gets about 55% of its water from the Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct. It represents about 1/3 of California's total water supply.

 

[Media Fan]

Reservoirs rarely are at 100% of capacity, or above that. That creates management problems if more storms hit the drainage.

Below is a map of the storage levels at major reservoirs in CA, as of this morning. As it shows, none of them are at 100% of capacity. What makes it somewhat confusing is that all but 1 of them is above 100% of Historical Average.

Edit: I can't get the map to display. You should be able to access it at THIS LINK. If that link doesn't work, then CLICK HERE, and then click on the map image to get an update for today.

You are an amazing source of information. Thank you.