State hydrologists ventured out into the Sierra snow to gather
monthly measurements. It helps them determine water supply for
the year. The latest readings put the snowpack at 115 percent
- or 15 percent above normal. That's a big change from last
year at this time, when the snowpack was about 60 percent of
normal:
"We're cautiously optimistic but things look really good."
Eric Alvarez is with the Department of Water Resources. He says things look good now - but reservoirs are still down after several dry years - and winter's not over yet:
"If we can just get another couple of weeks of some good rainfall between now and April first, which is considered the end of the winter season, we should be doing pretty good."
Melting Sierra snow is the state's largest reservoir - providing water for millions of Californians.