Drip, drip, drip. That sound you hear is what's left of California's snowpack, melting away at an alarming rate.
The Sierra snowpack provides about 30% of the state's water needs. On New Year's Day, the snowpack stood at 168% of normal for that date, thanks to a series of storms in October and December. But by Tuesday, after a dry January, the snowpack had fallen to just 92% of its historical average.
With the window for winter snowfall rapidly narrowing with no sign of storms in the forecast, the situation will only get worse. It's very likely that the state's drought will continue into a third year. The grim reality is that we can't count on Mother Nature to solve our water challenges. Especially given the realities of climate change.
