Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

Epic snow from all those atmospheric rivers in the West is starting to melt, and the flood danger is rising

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 17, 2023
Southern Sierra Council, Sierra Nevada, Center, Food, University, Amazon River, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Atmosphere, Record, Whiplash, Research, Temperature, Snow, Water supply, Landslide, Disaster, River, Risk, Water, Weather, Farmer, Tunnel, Dam, Uranium mining, Oil, Wood drying, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Rocky Mountains, Oceanography

This region was once home to the largest freshwater lake west of the Rockies.

Key Points: 
  • This region was once home to the largest freshwater lake west of the Rockies.
  • But the rivers that fed Tulare Lake were dammed and diverted long ago, leaving it nearly dry by 1920.
  • Communities there and across the West are preparing for flooding and mudslide disasters as record snow begins to melt.

How extreme were this year’s atmospheric rivers?

    • This year, in a three-week window from about Dec. 27, 2022, to Jan. 17, 2023, we saw nine atmospheric rivers make landfall, five of them categorized as strong or greater magnitude.
    • In all, the state experienced 31 atmospheric rivers through the end of March: one extreme, six strong, 13 moderate and 11 weak.
    • The region has had 11 moderate atmospheric rivers – double the average of 5.5 – and an additional four strong ones.
    • Overall, California has about double its normal snowpack, and some locations have experienced more than double the number of strong atmospheric rivers it typically sees.

What risks does all that snow in the mountains create?

    • There is a lot of snow in the Sierra Nevada, and it is going to come off the mountains at some point.
    • The closest year for comparison in terms of the amount of snow would be 1983, when the average statewide snow water content was 60.3 inches in May.
    • Tulare Lake is an indication of just how extreme this year has been, and the risk is rising as the snow melts.

The transition from extreme drought in 2022 to record snow was fast. Is that normal?

    • 2019 was another above-average year in terms of precipitation in California, but after that we saw three straight years of drought.
    • We went from 13 strong or greater magnitude atmospheric rivers in 2017 to just three in 2020 and 2021, combined.

Are atmospheric rivers becoming more intense with a warming climate?

    • Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of water vapor in the sky that typically start in the tropics as water evaporates and is pulled poleward by atmospheric circulations.
    • That can increase the capacity of atmospheric rivers, with more water vapor resulting in stronger storms.
    • Research by some of my colleagues at Scripps Institution of Oceanography also suggests that California will see fewer storms that aren’t atmospheric rivers.
    • But the state will likely see more intense atmospheric rivers as temperatures rise.

Metropolitan Declares Water Supply Alert in Response to Severe Drought

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Public Policy, Government, Utilities, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, State, Local, Energy, Other Natural Resources, California State Water Project, California Department, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow v. Bureau of Reclamation, City, Colorado River, Bureau, Efficiency, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California Department of Water Resources, Metropolitan, Recycling, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Reclaim, Restaurant, Water, Water supply, Climate change, State, Water resources, Oil, Renewable energy, Risk management

In response to the extreme drought conditions impacting Southern California, the Metropolitan Water Districts Board of Directors today declared a Water Supply Alert, calling for consumers and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water use and help preserve the regions storage reserves.

Key Points: 
  • In response to the extreme drought conditions impacting Southern California, the Metropolitan Water Districts Board of Directors today declared a Water Supply Alert, calling for consumers and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water use and help preserve the regions storage reserves.
  • We must all find ways we can save even more so we have the water we need if this drought continues.
  • A Water Supply Alert is the third of four conditions in Metropolitans framework indicating the urgency of Southern Californias need to save water.
  • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19 million people in six counties.

Metropolitan Board to Consider Stronger Drought Response Action

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 16, 2021
Energy, Environment, State, Local, Public Policy, Government, Utilities, Water supply, Colorado River, Water, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Recycling, Board, Efficiency, Rio Grande Silvery Minnow v. Bureau of Reclamation, Union Station, City, Bureau, Oil

Metropolitan Water District will host a media availability after its board of directors considers declaring a Water Supply Alert to elevate Southern Californias water-saving response with the states water supplies increasingly stressed by extreme drought.

Key Points: 
  • Metropolitan Water District will host a media availability after its board of directors considers declaring a Water Supply Alert to elevate Southern Californias water-saving response with the states water supplies increasingly stressed by extreme drought.
  • Southern Californias water supplies are being severely impacted by extreme drought in both the Northern Sierra and the Colorado River, stressing both of the regions imported water sources.
  • As conditions worsen and the outlook for next year looks bleak, Metropolitans board will consider declaring a Water Supply Alert for the region to safeguard storage reserves.
  • The Metropolitan boards proposed action comes a day after the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to declare the first-ever shortage on the Colorado River, which will trigger cutbacks for Arizona and Nevada next year.