California Drought Watch

A monthly look at the water shortage

Recent storms offer hope that a sixth drought year will be avoided in the northern mountains, crucial source of water for farms and cities. Snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada is 57% of the historic normal compared to 19% this time last year. Several new storms are expected in January, historically the wettest month.

The Bottom Line

Weatherwise, the drought may be over in Southern California. But in terms of water supply, the snow and rainfall must rise well above normal up north for officials to declare the state’s drought broken.

Drought Fact

Gibraltar Reservoir above Santa Barbara, which became a national symbol of the California drought by going bone dry, is on the verge of overflowing into the Santa Ynez River. Santa Barbara’s other main reservoir, Lake Cachuma, is still at 27% of capacity.

Southern California Report

Early January snowpack in the Eastern Sierra, source of half of the Los Angeles city water supply, is its best it has been since 1989. Coastal rainfall this season has been higher than normal from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Most of it has washed out to sea, however, since there are no systems in place to capture rainfall.

Storage (Storage in 155 Major Reservoirs, as of 12/31/91) Capacity: 37.6 million acre ft. Normal season: 22.3 Current: 12.7 Driest season on record (1977): 9.8

Rainfall Yardstick (Season to date as of 1/6/92) Santa Barbara: *101% of normal San Francisco: 84% of normal Ventura: 102% of normal Los Angeles: 105% of normal San Diego: 122% of normal Santa Ana: 68% of normal

Sacramento River Basin Precipitation in normal season: 20.0” Precipitation this season: 11.8” Driest season on record (1977): 5.5”

Eastern Sierra (Measured at Mammoth Pass) Precipitation in normal season: 20.7” Precipitation this season: 13.0” Driest season on record (1977): 4.3” Sources: State Dept. of Water Resources, DWP, Santa Barbara Dept. of Water, Johnston Weather Watch