Sierra Nevada water

Water, in all its forms, is indeed the crowning glory of the Sierra. Whether in motion or at rest, the waters of the Sierra are a constant joy to the beholder. Above all, they are the Sierra’s greatest contribution to human welfare.

Farquhar, F. 1965. History of the Sierra Nevada Main points for today

Tremendous spatial and inter-annual variation in precipitation in California California has 7-10 main hydrologic regions Much of California’s water drains into the Central Valley, through the Delta and into San Francisco Bay Only a fraction of precipitation ends up as streamflow Urban water demand is increasing, while agricultural water demand has peaked and is declining Water supply reservoirs provide seasonal storage of snowmelt, for water deliveries through the year Major water conveyance facilities redistribute water around the state to match supply with demand Supply-demand mismatches must be met in dry years by reduction in some uses for water

watersheds

Rivers

Sacramento Delta

The Central Valley drains to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Most water comes in from the north. Most consumptive withdrawals are in the south

Sierra Nevada basins

California water use

Folsom Dam Sierra Nevada dams

New Melones

Oshaughnessy Dam Federal water conveyance projects

Shasta Dam

Delta-Mendota canal

All American Canal Los Angeles aqueduct

Colorado River aqueduct

Water conveyance projects built by local governments California State water project All water Coachella conveyance projects

Hetch Hetchy

Mokelumne Lake Isabella

Lake Almanor

Lake McClure