(Links and other information are historical in nature and may no
longer be correct. Products referenced in the archives may no longer
be available. References to products on sale do not apply.) |
|
o The EPA's Office of Water encourages all citizens to learn about their water resources and supports volunteer monitoring because of its many benefits. Volunteer monitors build awareness of pollution problems, become trained in pollution prevention, help clean up problem sites, provide data for waters that may otherwise be unassessed, and increase the amount of water quality information available to decision makers at all levels of government. Among the uses of volunteer data are delineating and characterizing watersheds, screening for water quality problems, and measuring baseline conditions and trends. More. o Rivers, trails, and greenway corridors are traditionally recognized for their environmental protection, recreation values, and aesthetic appearance. These corridors also have the potential to create jobs, enhance property values, expand local businesses, attract new or relocating businesses, increase local tax revenues, decrease local government expenditures, and promote a local community. More. o If you haven’t been to Wingfield Park in downtown Reno lately, you are in for a surprise. More than 3,500 tons of boulders have been added to the north side of the park and along the Truckee River, lining the island park and creating a series of four pools in the main channel. More. o Equatorial surface and subsurface temperatures were slightly warmer than average throughout most of the Pacific during September. Equatorial SST anomalies greater than +0.5°C (~1°F) persisted in the region west of the date line during September, and developed over most of the region between the date line and 120°W during the last half of the month. More. Splashes: Water Art - S.F.Kern - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Condition Black |
Important information about River Notes.
For the first time since early in January it looks like the Southern Sierra could get some significant snow. Most computer models and other guidance have been consistent in forecasting a fairly strong, but fasting moving system affecting the area around Monday. The mid-level winds and moisture depicted in the GFS 700mb plot for 10:00 am PST Monday suggest favorable conditions for orographically enhanced snowfall in the Central and Southern Sierra. A GFS windgram suggests about a 12 hour period of about 20 kt. southwesterly mid-level winds. The 12z GFSx generates over an inch water equivalent of precipitation in the northern portion of the Kern River basin. We'll see!
02/01/2004 1:00 P.M. This morning`s ETA forecast now onboard for significant snow Monday with 1.5 inch water equivalent projected for northern areas of Kern River basin. HPC and CNRFC forecast similar amounts. Strong jet max working around base of trough and amount of moisture entrained from subtropics are wildcards.
02/03/2004 7:00 A.M. Preliminary storm totals (inches water equivalent): Upper Tyndall Creek 1.2, Crabtree Meadow 0.8, Chagoopa Plateau 0.7, Pascoes 1.5, Wet Meadows 1.2, Casa Vieja 1.3, Beach Meadows 1.0, Johnsondale 0.4, Kernville 0.5.
Yesterday's Regional Summary of Snow Water Equivalents from California Cooperative Snow Surveys reported the snowpack at 101% of normal for the Southern section, 110% for the Central section, and 136% for the Northern section. Statewide the pack is reported at 115% of normal for the date. This works out to about 68% of the normal April 1 total.
The table below, adapted from yesterday's Daily Snow Sensor Report, lists the snow water equivalents in inches for snow sensors in the Kern River basin.
Station |
Elev (ft) |
Apr 1 Avg (in) |
Today (in) |
% Apr 1 |
Upper Tyndall Creek |
11,400 | 27.7 | 11.3 | 40% |
| Crabtree Meadow | 10,700 | 19.8 | 8.2 | 41% |
| Chagoopa Plateau | 10,300 | 21.8 | 12.4 | 56% |
| Pascoes | 9,150 | 24.9 | 21.6 | 86% |
| Tunnel Guard Station | 8,900 | 15.6 | 6.8 | 43% |
| Wet Meadows | 8,950 | 30.3 | 12.0 | 39% |
| Casa Vieja Meadows | 8,300 | 20.9 | 13.1 | 62% |
| Beach Meadows | 7,650 | 11.0 | 7.4 | 67% |
Snow sensors measure water content by weighing a column of snow using snow pillows, or using a new technology based on adsorption of cosmic gamma particles that constantly bombard the Earth. These automated sensors supplement the manual collection of snow data at snow courses throughout the Sierra. The first Kern River basin snow course measurements of the season are coming in and suggest that the snowpack is near, or slightly less than normal for the date.
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir
data. Click on "Current" to
get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily.
For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 30JAN2004 1300 | -- | -- | 4.76 | 270 | 267 | 17 | 250 | 150876 | -- |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '04 | WY '03 | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | Kernville RAWS | RAWS Archive | |
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
|
o The EPA's Office of Water encourages all citizens to learn about their water resources and supports volunteer monitoring because of its many benefits. Volunteer monitors build awareness of pollution problems, become trained in pollution prevention, help clean up problem sites, provide data for waters that may otherwise be unassessed, and increase the amount of water quality information available to decision makers at all levels of government. Among the uses of volunteer data are delineating and characterizing watersheds, screening for water quality problems, and measuring baseline conditions and trends. More. o Rivers, trails, and greenway corridors are traditionally recognized for their environmental protection, recreation values, and aesthetic appearance. These corridors also have the potential to create jobs, enhance property values, expand local businesses, attract new or relocating businesses, increase local tax revenues, decrease local government expenditures, and promote a local community. More. o If you haven’t been to Wingfield Park in downtown Reno lately, you are in for a surprise. More than 3,500 tons of boulders have been added to the north side of the park and along the Truckee River, lining the island park and creating a series of four pools in the main channel. More. o Equatorial surface and subsurface temperatures were slightly warmer than average throughout most of the Pacific during September. Equatorial SST anomalies greater than +0.5°C (~1°F) persisted in the region west of the date line during September, and developed over most of the region between the date line and 120°W during the last half of the month. More. Splashes: Water Art - S.F.Kern - River Quotes - Zambezi Big Water - Condition Black |
Important information about River Notes.
The Sierra starts the New Year with a great snowpack, and more snow is in tonight's forecast. Today's Regional Summary of Snow Water Equivalents from California Cooperative Snow Surveys reports the snowpack at 147% of normal for the Southern and Central sections, and 170% for the Northern section. Statewide the pack is reported at 155% of normal for the date. This works out to about 61% of the normal April 1 total.
The table below, adapted from today's Daily Snow Sensor Report, lists the snow water equivalents in inches for snow sensors in the Kern River basin.
Station
|
Elev
(ft) |
Apr 1 Avg
(in) |
Today
(in) |
%
Apr 1 |
Upper Tyndall Creek |
11,400 | 27.7 | 9.7 | 35% |
| Crabtree Meadow | 10,700 | 19.8 | 7.3 | 36% |
| Chagoopa Plateau | 10,300 | 21.8 | 11.8 | 54% |
| Pascoes | 9,150 | 24.9 | 19.8 | 79% |
| Tunnel Guard Station | 8,900 | 15.6 | 5.8 | 37% |
| Wet Meadows | 8,950 | 30.3 | 16.3 | 53% |
| Casa Vieja Meadows | 8,300 | 20.9 | 11.8 | 56% |
| Beach Meadows | 7,650 | 11.0 | 7.0 | 63% |
This Snow Analysis from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center provides an excellent overview of the Sierra snowpack. Snow data used to update the model include observations from the NOHRSC's Airborne Snow Survey Program, NWS and FAA field offices, NWS Cooperative Observers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL and snow course networks, the California Department of Water Resources and Canadian snow pillow networks, and snow cover observations from NOAA's GOES and AVHRR satellites.
While some snow is forecast by the ETA for the northern areas of the Kern River basin overnight, the main storm track has shifted north and most computer guidance says it's going to stay there for a while. A high amplitude ridge is forecast to build over the West. Unless the westerlies undercut this ridge, below normal precipitation would be expected. We'll see!
Here is a snapshot of today's flow and reservoir
data. Click on "Current" to
get the latest info. (SCE reports that flow phone data is updated twice daily.
For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821.)
Upper Kern |
Lower Kern |
||||||||
| Above Fairview* | Below Fairview* | At Kernville | Lake Isabella | Below Democrat Dam* | |||||
| Date & Time | Flow (cfs) | Flow (cfs) | Stage | Flow (cfs) | Total Outflow | to River | to Borel Canal | Storage (acre-feet) |
Flow (cfs) |
| 06JAN2004 1300 | -- | -- | 5.06 | 368 | 352 | 18 | 335 | 148725 | -- |
| Kern Flow Info | Current | 5 Day Plot | 10 Day Plot | Month | WY '04 | WY '03 | WY '02 | WY '01 | WY '00 |
| Weather | NWS | NWS Extended | CNN | Washington Post | Satellite | Radar | Kernville RAWS | RAWS Archive | |
| *Flow values from SCE Flow Phone. For current information call 877-537-6356 or 760-376-8821. Reportedly, flows are updated twice daily. | |||||||||
More information concerning flow and weather can be found on our LINKS page.
