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State officials warn of an ‘early melt’ water year and low snowpack; urge conservation and operations changes
Summary
DWR and Reclamation described a water year in which large early storms were followed by an unusually warm March, producing an early, rapid snowmelt and leaving statewide snowpack far below normal; agencies urged conservation, improved forecasting and infrastructure and operational changes to capture runoff.
State and federal water officials told the State Water Resources Control Board April 7 that the 2025–26 water year has been unusual and urgent: although several big storms in late fall and a strong February brought significant runoff, an abnormally warm March and low snow accumulation left statewide snowpack well below average and produced an early, rapid melt.
Dr. Mike Anderson (DWR) described a season punctuated by discrete high‑intensity rainfall and runoff events followed by long dry spells. He said some reservoirs captured earlier…
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