Above average snowpack at Lake Tahoe - 113% at Phillips, 102% at Mt. Rose

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - April 1 is considered the peak snowpack for the season at Lake Tahoe, helping water managers know how to best manage the spring runoff into rivers and reservoirs for water supplies.

On Tuesday, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the all-important April snow survey, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station southwest of Lake Tahoe near Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort. The manual survey recorded 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches, which is 113 percent of the average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast.

DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 28.6 inches, or 110 percent of the April 1 average, a significant improvement from just 28 percent of the average on January 1.

This makes two consecutive years that the average snowpack was above average. The 2024 totals were boosted by a snowy March.

On the Nevada side, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service measured on Monday, finding snowpack in the Tahoe, Truckee, Carson, and Walker basins at 102-113 percent of the normal peak.

At Mt. Rose, the SWE was 27.5 inches, which is 102 percent of the April 1 average. Last year at this time it was 219 percent.

Their highest reading was in the Spring Mountains, northwest of Las Vegas. The snowpack there was 154 percent of average. Last year's epic winter left them with a snowpack at 382 percent of average.

California water managers said there are challenges ahead as the spring runoff begins. The dry start to the year, soot and ash from burn scars that accelerate snowmelt, and other factors may result in below-average spring runoff which can impact water availability.

"It’s great news that the snowpack was able to catch up in March from a dry start this year. This water year shows once again how our climate is shifting, and how we can swing from dry to wet conditions within a season,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “These swings make it crucial to maintain conservation while managing the runoff. Variable climate conditions could result in less water runoff into our reservoirs. 100 percent snowpack does not mean 100 percent runoff. Capturing and storing what we can in wetter years for drier times remains a key priority.”

California’s reservoirs remain in good shape thanks to state efforts to capture and store as much water as possible from record storms in 2023 and again this season. The State Water Project has increased storage by 700,000 acre-feet at Lake Oroville and by 154,000 acre-feet at San Luis Reservoir since January 1. Statewide, reservoir levels currently stand at 116 percent of average.

From the Nevada measurements:

Tahoe Basin - April 1 snowpack 102% of the median peak. January 1 snowpack was 47% of median, 6th lowest since SNOTEL records begin in 1981. Of the 16 lowest January 1 snowpacks, only 2024, 2000 and 1996 recovered to a normal peak.

Truckee Basin - April 1 snowpack 105% of the median peak. January 1 snowpack was 46% of median, 6th lowest since SNOTEL records begin in 1981. Of the 16 lowest January 1 snowpacks, only 2024, 2000 and 1996 recovered to a normal peak.

Carson Basin - April 1 snowpack 113% of the median peak. January 1 snowpack was 44% of median, 7th lowest since SNOTEL records begin in 1981. Of the 11 lowest January 1 snowpacks, 2024 is the only year that recovered to a normal peak.