Bill Hauck, TMWA Senior Hydrologist

Recent winter storms have improved the area’s water supply outlook.  Much of the precipitation over the last couple of weeks has come in the form of rainfall which is extremely welcome and has helped to recharge groundwater reserves and boost river flows.  While snowpack conditions have improved in the mountains, we are still below normal for this time of year.  Snowpack in the Truckee River Basin is at roughly 60% of average and the Lake Tahoe Basin is roughly 30% of average. It’s still very early in the snowpack-building season; however, we remain hopeful for a solid winter.

Water consumption by TMWA customers is at wintertime levels—averaging 29 million gallons per day (MGD) last week and Truckee River flow at the CA/NV state line was approximately 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) this morning. Think snow!