Site search
sponsored by
News
ENLARGE
Bonanza Photo - Carrie Richards The Lake Tahoe water level may be down two feet by the end of this summer, local hydrologists said. The two previous strong winters have left the Tahoe Basin and the Truckee River watershed with enough water reserve for this summer.
Barring any unforeseen April showers, basin residents will see lake levels down two feet by summer's end, local hydrologists said.
"A foot and a half in Tahoe isn't much of a difference," said Federal Water Master Garry Stone. "When you get down to the natural rim where the docks can't be used, people would notice it. But it's not that critical now, it's still a very usable lake."
The lake's peak will be roughly 6227.6 feet which is 1.5 feet below last year's full level, said federal hydrologist Chad Blanchard. "After that it depends on what happens with evaporation."
Current Sierra snowpack and precipitation is down to its lowest level in more than a decade and latest snowpack numbers show 45 percent of average.
Stone this week said while a late-March storm "may have helped a little" the hills remain dry, but "it is not time for basin residents to panic."
Downstream, residents of the Truckee Meadows may not have to think drought either, the Water Master said. Lake Tahoe's run-off will be supplemented with releases from Boca Reservoir.
"A foot and a half in Tahoe isn't much of a difference," said Federal Water Master Garry Stone. "When you get down to the natural rim where the docks can't be used, people would notice it. But it's not that critical now, it's still a very usable lake."
The lake's peak will be roughly 6227.6 feet which is 1.5 feet below last year's full level, said federal hydrologist Chad Blanchard. "After that it depends on what happens with evaporation."
Current Sierra snowpack and precipitation is down to its lowest level in more than a decade and latest snowpack numbers show 45 percent of average.
Stone this week said while a late-March storm "may have helped a little" the hills remain dry, but "it is not time for basin residents to panic."
Downstream, residents of the Truckee Meadows may not have to think drought either, the Water Master said. Lake Tahoe's run-off will be supplemented with releases from Boca Reservoir.
"At this point Lake Tahoe's storage is good," Stone said. "We're real happy about that. We should be able to make the Floriston rate all summer."
Originally established in 1915, Floriston rates are the minimum-flow criteria for the Truckee River at the California-Nevada boundary.
When flow rates meet Floriston rates of 500 cubic feet per second, all downstream agricultural, municipal and industrial, and hydropower water rights are met.
"We have to maintain the Floriston rate," Stone said. "The less run-off we get from snowpack, the more we have to go to reservoirs."
As a result of the dry season, the water master is currently releasing the minimum amount of water, only 70 cubic feet per second, from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River to maintain the Floriston rate in April and May - but this may change in June, experts said.
"It's really too early to forecast what we'll be releasing this summer," said federal hydrologist Chad Blanchard. "That number may go up to 200 to 250 in June and July to keep the Floriston rate."
This number is especially important to local rafting companies, who need a minimum of 120 to 150 cfs to operate during the summer high season.
Originally established in 1915, Floriston rates are the minimum-flow criteria for the Truckee River at the California-Nevada boundary.
When flow rates meet Floriston rates of 500 cubic feet per second, all downstream agricultural, municipal and industrial, and hydropower water rights are met.
"We have to maintain the Floriston rate," Stone said. "The less run-off we get from snowpack, the more we have to go to reservoirs."
As a result of the dry season, the water master is currently releasing the minimum amount of water, only 70 cubic feet per second, from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River to maintain the Floriston rate in April and May - but this may change in June, experts said.
"It's really too early to forecast what we'll be releasing this summer," said federal hydrologist Chad Blanchard. "That number may go up to 200 to 250 in June and July to keep the Floriston rate."
This number is especially important to local rafting companies, who need a minimum of 120 to 150 cfs to operate during the summer high season.
One rafting company manager said he's not worried.
"We're expecting a good season," said Gary Perona of Truckee River Raft Company. "We're expecting to open Memorial Day this year, and that the flows will be good, consistent."
Perona said even on the wettest years, the flow of the Truckee is not always consistent for the rafting business.
"We had 10 tons of water last year and the water master shut it off in mid-July," Perona said. "It all comes down to how they use it and adjust it. We think this year may be more comfortable. Even though we have a limited quantity of water, it will be in consistent supply."
While the water master was reluctant to predict what will be released in the summer months, he did make note that by mid-July 200 to 250 cfs would most likely be released, more than enough to keep the rafting business afloat.
"We just don't like making these kind of predictions that send everyone into a frenzy," Stone said. "The bottom-line is this year we should be OK. But, the lower we draw down our reserves this year, the more we have to fill up next year. We seem to have enough between Boca and run-off, but it'll take most of our storage to maintain levels.
"We will be definitely drawing on Lake Tahoe."
"We're expecting a good season," said Gary Perona of Truckee River Raft Company. "We're expecting to open Memorial Day this year, and that the flows will be good, consistent."
Perona said even on the wettest years, the flow of the Truckee is not always consistent for the rafting business.
"We had 10 tons of water last year and the water master shut it off in mid-July," Perona said. "It all comes down to how they use it and adjust it. We think this year may be more comfortable. Even though we have a limited quantity of water, it will be in consistent supply."
While the water master was reluctant to predict what will be released in the summer months, he did make note that by mid-July 200 to 250 cfs would most likely be released, more than enough to keep the rafting business afloat.
"We just don't like making these kind of predictions that send everyone into a frenzy," Stone said. "The bottom-line is this year we should be OK. But, the lower we draw down our reserves this year, the more we have to fill up next year. We seem to have enough between Boca and run-off, but it'll take most of our storage to maintain levels.
"We will be definitely drawing on Lake Tahoe."
In the Truckee River watershed, seven dams are operated upstream to augment water supply and to minimize flood hazards in the Truckee Meadows. These dams control water releases from Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake, Martis Creek Lake, Prosser Creek Reservoir, Independence Lake, Stampede Reservoir and Boca Reservoir.
The Truckee has also drawn from Stampede Reservoir in the past, but hydrologists said this year Stampede, used by many for boating and fishing, would not be affected as far as the recreational user is concerned.
"Stampede's got 190,000 acre feet of water," Stone said. "When it's full it's 225,000, so it's fine for water recreation."
Residents may recall that a similar cycle of dry years from '02-'04 was snapped by two straight big winters.
It was actually '04 that the lake was down to the natural rim in the fall," said hydrologist Blanchard. "It wasn't that long ago."
On the other side of the Sierra crest, Sierra snowmelt provides more than a third of California's drinking and irrigation water and helps maintain the State Water Project, which provides water to more than 23 million people and 775,000 acres of farmland.
"It's definitely one of the drier years in recent memory but we've already received twice the precipitation we had in the driest year in history, 1977," Blanchard said. "In that entire year we received 8 inches. This year, we've already received 16.34. So, it's not a good year, we're way behind, all the big months are behind us - but we're definitely not the driest by any means."
The Truckee has also drawn from Stampede Reservoir in the past, but hydrologists said this year Stampede, used by many for boating and fishing, would not be affected as far as the recreational user is concerned.
"Stampede's got 190,000 acre feet of water," Stone said. "When it's full it's 225,000, so it's fine for water recreation."
Residents may recall that a similar cycle of dry years from '02-'04 was snapped by two straight big winters.
It was actually '04 that the lake was down to the natural rim in the fall," said hydrologist Blanchard. "It wasn't that long ago."
On the other side of the Sierra crest, Sierra snowmelt provides more than a third of California's drinking and irrigation water and helps maintain the State Water Project, which provides water to more than 23 million people and 775,000 acres of farmland.
"It's definitely one of the drier years in recent memory but we've already received twice the precipitation we had in the driest year in history, 1977," Blanchard said. "In that entire year we received 8 inches. This year, we've already received 16.34. So, it's not a good year, we're way behind, all the big months are behind us - but we're definitely not the driest by any means."
