What a difference a minute makes when talking Nevada weather. A few weeks ago, Truckee Carson Irrigation District officials were worried about the potential water supply for the water season, which typically begins mid-March. Lake Lahontan was nearly dry, and forecasts had the board discussing a fifty percent water year.
Today however, officials at the district, along with National Weather Service staff in Reno, are hopeful these recent storms will relieve drought conditions and provide enough water for a strong year of farming.
“As winter storms go,” says Rusty Jardine, general manager at TCID, “we are very encouraged by the weather patterns we are seeing. Just weeks ago, we had little confidence that we would have more than a fifty to sixty percent of normal water supply. However, with mounting snows, the numbers are ascending.”
The National Weather Service has published a “Situational Awareness” report, indicating snow will continue in the mountains on Friday, with light accumulations over the weekend and heavy snow again, Monday and Tuesday for the Sierra and foothills.
Kelly Herwick, TCID water master, says looking at next week, the possibility exists for a “Rain on Snow event.” The last time this occurred was 2017, at which time the Carson River alone, in a 7-day period, provided more than 90,000 acre feet to Lahontan Reservoir.
Additionally, Herwick explained that the “Storm” season typically starts in January and ends in April. Prior to these storms, soil conditions were dry and there are concerns when the time comes for snow melt and stream flow run off to begin. It is possible then to see losses to soil conditions which still could be a factor later.
“We are off to a good start,” he said, “and we are seeing an increase in our water shed. I would say though, it is too early to tell what our season may hold for our Water Users and we will continue to monitor conditions.”
Jardine has invited Tim Bardsley of the National Weather Service in Reno to provide a briefing to board members at the March board meeting. “We may have a more-clear picture by then. But we are hopeful that what we are seeing now, by way of these winter storms, will continue and contribute to a “Miracle March”.
The next TCID board meeting will be held on February 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
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