The California Department of Water Resources is carefully evaluating the potential for flooding from areas receiving unusual levels of snow.  The statewide snowpack water-equivalent is 237 percent above the average for late March.  The state flood infrastructure system will be challenged by both excessive rainfall and the impending snow-melt.

Sean de Guzman, Manager of the Department of Water Resources, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, stated, “Our accumulation will go down as one of the largest snowpack years on record in California.”

Flood response activities are being planned for the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Tulare Lake Basin.  Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom authorized diversion of water to replenish aquifers depleted during the severe three-year-long drought.