MAY 20, 2016 Publication
Hydropower conditions improve as West Coast drought eases
Principal contributor: Tim Shear
Hydropower conditions improve as West Coast drought eases
The western United States, particularly California, has experienced drought over the past several years, but there are now signs of improvement.
Since June 2013, most of California has been in a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, the worst three drought designations as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. By mid-2014, nearly 60% of the state was in the exceptional drought category, and California's governor had declared a drought emergency. The drought led to significant declines in hydroelectric generation throughout the West, and California's first-ever mandatory water restrictions in 2015.
Though far from being back to normal conditions, California's water situation has improved recently. This winter's strong El Niño weather system brought considerable precipitation to much of the West, building the snowpack and helping to fill reservoirs. As of mid-May, 21% of California is in exceptional drought, the lowest percentage since February 2014. More than 5% of the state is now listed as not having any drought, the highest percentage since March 2013.
Snowpack in California is significantly higher than at this time last year, although it is still below long-term average levels. At the end of April, statewide California snowpack water content stood at 14.5 inches, 61% of average and up from a mere 1.1 inches at the same time in 2015. Statewide reservoir levels have also improved considerably. The 10 largest reservoirs in California averaged 66% of capacity and 88% of average on the last day of April, with 4 of the 10 reservoirs higher than average on that date. The improving situation prompted the California State Water Resources Control Board on May 18 to lift last year's statewide conservation order, now allowing local water districts to set their own targets.
page source http://www.eia.gov/
