Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy

Oct 01 2008

Pray for Rain

A colleague was complaining in the lunch room today that weather forecasts call for possible rain this weekend. All I could think of were these ominous facts issued today in the California Department of Water Resources' Weather and Climate Newsletter. (Caution: Do not read the following information if you are prone to depression.)

This water year, Oct. 1, 2007 - Sept. 30, 2008 has seen a deficit of as much as 10-20 inches of precipitation in the Sierra, source of much of our State's water supply.
The seven-month period March-Sept, 2008 was the driest on record in the Northern Sierra. Only 3.5" of rainfall was received; merely 23% of average.
For the Northern Sierra, the last 2 water years are the 9th driest 2-year period on record (88 years of record).
Statewide precipitation for the six-month period, March - August, 2008 was only 31% of average; the driest March - August in 114 years of record for the State.
State's major reservoirs are storing about 1/3rd of their capacity at a time they would typically be at about 2/3rds.
Lake Oroville is at its lowest carryover storage since the drought of 1977. By the end of the calendar year, it may fall to a new record low.

Continued drought conditions will mean less inexpensive hydropower, degraded plant and wildlife habitats, and more devastating fire seasons. They may ultimately result even in browner golf courses. So pray for rain!

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall | Comments (0) Permalink