UPDATE 1-Calif. water officials urge conservation, storage

(Adds governor's statement, byline)

By Leonard Anderson

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 (Reuters) - California water officials reported on Tuesday that the water in the state's snowpack is at its lowest level in almost 20 years and called for conservation and more water storage to counter future dry years.

The final snow survey on Tuesday by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) showed that water content in the Sierra Nevada range is only 29 percent of normal for the 2006-2007 winter season, or 71 percent below normal, its lowest point since 1988.

"We must increase efforts to call for a much higher level of conservation ... in case next year is a follow-on bad year," Lester Snow, DWR director, said on a conference call with reporters.

California, however, is not yet at a crisis point because of past spending to improve the state's water infrastructure, including water storage, conservation, waste water recycling and other measures.

California depends on the snowpack to generate hydroelectricity, help irrigate agriculture, fill reservoirs and support recreation on the state's rivers.

The latest snowpack readings reinforce the importance of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans to build more storage facilities and other infrastructure, Snow said.

The Republican governor said the snow report showed the need for a comprehensive water plan.