State authorities are urging residents to wait until summer to begin enjoying, with caution, rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs in the Sierra, in light of cold-water dangers posed by the season’s melting snowpack.
The snowpack, at 227% of average as of March 27, can cause fast flows and cold water temperatures when the snow begins to melt, according to a recent news release from CAL FIRE, California State Parks and the Department of Water Resources. Conditions are expected to be safer in the summer.
“California has one of the largest snowpacks on record,” said Department of Water Resources director Karla Nemeth. “As this snowpack melts in the coming months, the waterways will be especially cold, fast and running higher than normal. Be aware of fluctuating water levels. We want everyone to always make safety a top priority when recreating.”
“This year is very different from the last several years, in that the excessive snowpack and rain will continue to create challenges for us in the weeks and months ahead,” said CAL FIRE Chief Joe Tyler in the release. “Rising water levels in rivers and streams will be very cold, very fast and can easily overwhelm those that aren’t prepared or don’t heed warnings.”
