DWR Schedules Second Snow Survey of Season

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--The next manual snow survey by the California Department of Water
Resources will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 31, 2007, near
Lake Tahoe.

Historic Phillips Station, Highway 50 and Sierra at Tahoe Road,
(about 90 miles east of Sacramento) is the location. Media
representatives are advised to bring snowshoes or cross-country skis.
Complete snow course measurements should be available by noon.

Please park only in the permitted area along Highway 50 ... not
along Sierra at Tahoe Road. Monthly measurements are made from January
to May to help determine spring runoff volume into reservoirs. In
addition to this single manually measured site, reporters can find
real-time readings of statewide water content posted on the Internet
at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ.

Importance of Snow Surveying

Snow-water content is important in determining the coming year's
water supply. The measurements help hydrologists prepare water supply
forecasts as well as provide others, such as hydroelectric power
companies and the recreation industry, with needed data.

Monitoring is coordinated by the Department of Water Resources as
part of the multi-agency California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program.
Surveyors from more than 50 agencies and utilities visit hundreds of
snow measurement courses each month to gauge the amount of water in
the State's snowpack.

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State
Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection
services, assists local water districts in water management and water
conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

California Department of Water Resources
Elissa Lynn, Senior Meteorologist, 916-574-2221
Don Strickland, Information Officer, 916-653-9515
Ted Thomas, Information Officer, 916-653-9712
Frank Gehrke, Snow Surveys Office, 916-952-4044
(on-site cell phone number on day of survey)

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