The State : Sierra Water Outlook Eases

Recent storms have improved water runoff forecasts in Tuolumne County to the extent that county supervisors have been asked to waive mandatory water conservation measures. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. now predicts that Pinecrest Lake will reach full capacity this year because of recent rains and Sierra Nevada snowmelt, a company spokesman in Sonora said. Lyons Reservoir, another storage reservoir, also has benefitted from the storms. Supervisors adopted strict water conservation measures a month ago in the face of dire runoff predictions. Home users were told to cut water use by 35% and agricultural customers were to reduce use by half. County officials said the conservation measures have been effective.