[env-trinity] First survey finds bountiful snow in Alps

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/local/article_f1df1090-ed9e-11e6-a8c3-b36b46d1c92d.html


First survey finds bountiful snow in Alps
   
   - By AMY GITTELSOHN The Trinity Journal
 - 2 hrs ago
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   - Josh Smith | Special to The Trinity Journal
Nick Goulette, Ben Letton and Michael Novak take snow measurements at Bear Basin in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.    
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The first snow survey of the year in the mountains of Trinity County show an abundant snowpack. The thick snow that measured over 9 feet deep at one of the sites was a welcome sight to surveyors who encountered bare dirt during some of their outings in the recent drought years.Not this year. “We almost didn’t have to take our skis off,” said Josh Smith of the Watershed Research and Training Center, who organizes the snow surveys into the Trinity Alps Wilderness for the state Department of Water Resources.The team entered the wilderness via the Swift Creek trail on Jan. 27, skiing to Foster Cabin where they set up camp. From there they skied to Red Rock Mountain, Bear Basin and Shimmy Lakes, coming out of the wilderness on Jan. 30.Last year the snowpack in the Alps looked good but had petered out considerably by April when historically it is as its height. Smith said he’d be surprised if there isn’t a decent snowpack this year.“That much snow, it insulates itself really well,” he said.The following measurements were taken by Smith’s team and by the U.S. Forest Service in late January and early February:► Deadfall Lakes at 7,200 feet, 72 inches of snow with 23.5 inches of water content.► Red Rock Mountain at 6,700 feet, 109.35 inches of snow with 36.1 inches of water content.► Bear Basin at 6,500 feet, 88.6 inches of snow with 27.9 inches of water content.► Shimmy Lake at 6,400 feet, 97.5 inches of snow with 23.4 inches of water content.The water content for all those areas combined was at 113 percent of average for Feb. 1. It was at 70 percent of the April 1 average.Surveys statewide also looked good, with the snowpack measuring 186 percent of average for this time of year, and 117 percent of the April 1 average.Further snow surveys will be done in March, April and May.
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