California Drought Watch : A monthly look at the water shortage

A big January could have ended the drought, but no such luck. Precipitation in January, historically the state’s wettest month, was just one-third of normal in the crucial Sacramento River basin.

Storage (in 155 Major Reservoirs as of 2/1/92) Capacity: 37.6 million acre feet Normal season: 23.6 Current: 12.9 Driest season on record (1977): 13.0 Rainfall Yardstick (Season to date as of 2/4/92) Santa Barbara: 93% of normal San Francisco: 65% of normal Ventura: 72% of normal Los Angeles: 65% of normal San Diego: 88% of normal Santa Ana: 53% of normal Drought Fact

Gallons of water needed to produce selected foods in California: Lettuce (1 cup): 2.9 gallons Orange (one medium 4.6 oz.): 13.8 Cheese (1 oz.): 56.O Egg (1): 62.7 Almonds (1 oz.): 80.2 Steak (8 oz.): 1,231.0 The Bottom Line

Halfway through the wet season, the best guess is that total runoff into rivers will be 50% of normal. That would make 1992 another critically dry year.

Sacramento River Basin Precipitation to date in average season: 27.0” Precipitation this season: 12.8” Driest season on record (1977): 5.5” Eastern Sierra Precipitation to date in average season: 26.3” Precipitation this season: 13.4” Driest season on record (1977): 4.5” Drainage Trougle?

The drought has created a boom for plumbers and the services that clear blocked drains. According to the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors of California, it seems that in the name of conservation, people aren’t flushing out their drains enough.

Sources: State Dept. of Water Resources, Los Angeles DWP, Santa Barbara Dept. of Water, Johnston Weather Watch