Lack of snow in the Sierras

This time of year you wouldn't travel up highway 80 towards Truckee without chains in your vehicle. Sadly that wasn't the case today. Our drive today took us to Donner Lake, where the weather was like a spring day, by noon it was in the 50's (it felt more like 70).

Our first stop along the way was at Indian Springs, 5600 ft. elevation. The roadside had evidence of snow and as you can see there was a small trace along the stream.

 

 

Our next stop was Soda Springs, 6768 ft. elevation. There was a bit more snow and the river was iced over, but still looks like May-Jun when the snow is melting. On a brighter note, the Rainbow Lodge is under new management and should be open for business in a few weeks.

 

We decided to make Donner Lake, 5938 ft. elevation, our last stop before heading back to Folsom. There was one fishing boat on the lake and several people fishing off of the piers.

One of the rest stops along 80 posted this sign.

 







I bet this picnicker is glad this sign kept the sledding and snow fights away from her.

 

I am posting this picture again of Folsom Lake to tie together how the absence of snow this winter will affect the lake (currently at a record low, at 17% of capacity), our agriculture and the potential for an increase in forest fires. I think it is time to get serious about more water storage capacity for the state of California... Just a side note, this problem has been building for years. The delay to build the Auburn Dam is a good example, which is not a funding problem, it is problem with allocation of funds.