Historically Low Sierra Snowpack Levels Will Complicate Utility Emergency Planning

As of April 1, 2022, the Sierra snowpack, the source of 30% of California’s water supply, was at its lowest point in 70 years.  Based on data from localized sensor readings, the snow levels in this area are, as of the time of this writing, an unbelievable 39% of normal levels.  By comparison, the snowpack was 62% of normal in April 2021.  And other reservoirs across the state are in the same situation.

Unfortunately, this portends trouble for the electric utilities in California, and the region as a whole, and is likely to introduce added complexity to their emergency planning efforts.

Implications of the Sierra Snowpack Deficiency for Electric Utilities in the Region

California has been suffering a severe drought for over 3 years – in fact, all 58 counties in the state have been in a drought emergency since last year.  Unfortunately, the low levels of the Sierra snowpack and other regional reservoirs indicate that this problem is only getting worse.  This spells trouble when it comes to utility emergency preparedness, not only in California but also in nearby states.

The main impact on emergency planning is that the ongoing drought practically guarantees the frequency and severity of wildfire activity will continue to be high.  But that’s not the only impact.  Here are a few of the less-obvious impacts:

• Water is needed to fight fires, but water is already at less than 50% capacity in California. If fire activity goes through the roof, securing the supply of water necessary to fight the fires could become more difficult which would increase the duration of these events in some cases.
• Restoration employees are more likely to become fatigued in the extreme heat, which could compromise safety and may increase restoration times.
• Hydropower cannot operate without an adequate supply of water. If these plants cannot operate and are taken offline, overall supply would decrease which would negatively impact overall reliability.

In the final analysis, the Sierra snowpack decline is just one symptom of a larger problem, and that is climate change.  Until global warming is mitigated, utility emergency planning personnel in California – as well as across the globe – are in for an increasingly wild ride going forward.