dwpsnowsurveySnow and water content continue to go up in the Sierra mountains. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power website graph shows Mammoth Pass snowpack with 22.3 inches of water content. Last year at this time, it was closer to 2 inches.

With at least three more months to go in the winter season, conditions so far have turned out considerably more wet than last season. The DWP graph shows the snow pillow measurements at Mammoth Pass at 113% of normal to date. Rock Creek, 189%. South Lake, 91%. Big Pine Creek, 85% and Cottonwood Lakes, 173%.

The first snow survey of the year for all of California looks good too. According to the Department of Water Resources, readings show the snowpack’s statewide water content at 134% of average for this time of year.

DWR’s Ted Thomas said, “We are off to a good water supply start for the new year, but we have to remember that we have seen wet conditions suddenly turn dry more than once.”

Right now, state officials say they can deliver just over 40% of the some four million acre-feet of State Water Project water requested this year by 29 public agencies that supply more than 25 million Californians. The delivery estimate is expected to increase as more winter storms develop. The state rarely delivers 100% of requested water.

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