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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The snowpack in the Sierras and in parts of the Mendocino National Forest has dwindled to the point of being nearly nonexistent or gone altogether, and the lack of snow caused state officials to cancel the latest public snow survey.
The Department of Water Resources was set to hold the snow survey event on Friday, but said that, due to the prospect of just finding bare ground at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, 90 miles east of Sacramento, there was no point in going forward.
“This is the first time we formally canceled the media component of the snow survey. There is no need, since there is nothing to see, but bare ground, however reading are still taken by visual indicators and electronically at the survey locations,” Jennifer Iida, a public information officer with the Department of Water Resources, told Lake County News.
Bare ground was just what was found at last month's snow survey, as Lake County News has reported.
When Gov. Jerry Brown attended the April 1 survey at Phillips and announced a mandatory 25-percent reduction in water use across the state, the ground was barren of snow in every direction.
State officials said it was the only April 1 since the Department of Water Resources began surveying Phillips in 1941 that no snow was found there.
“We can’t count on the Sierra snowpack to replenish our water supplies,” said California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin. “Major reservoirs are dropping at a time when they typically would be filling with melted snow. We need careful, sparing use of water across the state, because we don’t know when this drought will end.”
April's vanishing snowpack – it was at just 5 percent of normal – was of special concern because, according to the Department of Water Resources, California's snowpack normally is at its peak in early April.
From that point on, it begins slowly melting in spring and early summer, going into streams and reservoirs and supplying 30 percent of the water used by California’s cities and farms, the state reported.
Lack of snow in May at Phillips Station is not as uncommon as the April situation; the Department of Water Resources said the last time snow was found there on May 1 was 2011.
Electronic snowpack readings on Monday show that dry conditions are continuing to deepen.
Statewide, the snowpack on Monday was at 1 percent of normal for this time of year, or three-tenths of an inch – compared to a normal level of more than 16 inches – with a total of 98 stations reporting.
That breaks down as follows for the three different areas of the Sierra:
– Northern Sierra: 2 percent of normal, average snow water equipment of 0.4 of an inch, 30 stations reporting;
– Central Sierra: 1 percent of normal, average snow water equipment of 0.3 of an inch, 42 stations reporting;
– Southern Sierra: 0 percent of normal, average snow water equipment of 0.1 of an inch, 26 stations reporting.
In the Mendocino National Forest, there appears to be no snow at the reporting stations.
Forest officials reported that the two snow reporting stations are at Anthony Peak and Plaskett Meadows.
Department of Water Resources California Data Exchange Center for the two sites goes back to February 1944.
For Anthony Peak, located in the Covelo Ranger District, no snow has been reported since Dec. 21, when there was 7 inches, with 1.5 inches of water content, according to the state's data.
Since 1944, the other instances of no snow being present during snow survey months are as follows: May 1944; May 1947; February 1948; May 1950; January and February of 1963; January 1974; January 1976; February 1977; January, February and April 1981; and May 1986.
For Plaskett Meadows, the last snow measured at the site was on April 3, 2014, based on the state data.
Previous incidences of no snow at Plaskett Meadows during snow survey months since 1944, according to the data exchange center, are as follows: March 1970, May 1990 and February 1991.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Over the past 35 years, California’s high-wage workers have seen steady increases in their paychecks.
But low-wage workers, 4.8 million strong and about one-third of the state’s workforce, earned less in inflation-adjusted dollars in 2014 than they did in 1979, according to an analysis from the University of California, Berkeley.
UC Berkeley researchers analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data at the campus’s Center for Labor Research and Education found that low-wage workers, defined as those earning hourly wages of $13.63 or less, have seen steady declines in their inflation-adjusted buying power.
This low-wage workforce, nearly three-quarters nonwhite and concentrated in two industries – retail trade, and restaurants and other food services – has also become older and more highly educated.
Teens made up 5 percent of low-wage workers in 2014, down from 16 percent in 1979, and 48 percent of low-wage earners in 2014 had attended some college, compared to 39 percent in 1979.
The analysis also showed that 40 percent of the state’s low-wage workers in 2014 were foreign-born.
“We found that low-wage workers in California are older and more educated than they were 30 years ago, and yet they’ve seen stagnant and even declining wages,” said Annette Bernhardt, a visiting UC Berkeley professor of sociology and a senior researcher at the center. “The story of growing inequality is not just about the top 1 percent, it is also about the millions of low-wage workers and their families who struggle with economic insecurity every day.”
Bernhardt and the study’s other authors, Ian Perry and Lindsay Cattell, found that the top occupations of California’s low-wage workers are retail sales workers; cooks and food preparation workers; material-moving workers; and personal care and childcare workers. About half are in Southern California.
In 2013, the median income of low-wage workers’ families was $29,100, compared to $63,000 for all California families, a gap that has widened since 2000.
From 2007 to 2011, families of low-wage workers received $14.3 billion in annual support from public-assistance programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicaid and food stamps.
The researchers published their analysis in chart form in Low-Wage Work in California: 2014 Chartbook, the first edition of an ongoing resource with a wide range of information about low-wage workers, their families and their jobs.
The chartbook will be updated annually as new census data becomes available.
Thomas Levy writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
As drought conditions continue to significantly elevate California’s fire danger, Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has declared May 3 to 9, 2015, as “Wildfire Awareness Week.”
During Wildfire Awareness Week, Cal Fire is reminding all Californians of the role they play in preparing for and preventing wildfires.
“With a record dry and warm winter Californian’s fire activity has been nearly double what it normally is for this time of year,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “Our firefighters continue to meet the challenges posed by California’s historic drought, but we all must do our part to ensure our homes are prepared for wildfire and that residents and visitors to our state take extreme caution to avoid sparking a wildfire.”
On May 1, the Department of Water Resources announced that California’s snowpack water content was only 3 percent of normal.
The lack of snow and overall rainfall has led to conditions being much drier than normal, lending themselves to the quick spread of wildfire.
Between Jan. 1 and May 2, Cal Fire has responded to more than 1,100 wildfires that have charred over 4,200 acres.
In an average year for the same time period, Cal Fire would typically respond to fewer than 650 wildfires burning approximately 1,500 acres.
During Wildfire Awareness Week, Cal Fire is reminding Californians that when it comes to wildfires, remember “Ready, Set, Go!”
“Being ready” for a wildfire starts by maintaining 100 feet of Defensible Space and hardening homes with fire resistant building materials.
During this drought Cal Fire is highly recommending residents landscape their yards with drought tolerant and fire resistant plants.
“Being set” includes have an evacuation plan and an emergency supply kit.
Lastly, when a wildfires strikes, residents are urged to “Go!” and evacuate early.
Cal Fire is also urging all Californians during Wildfire Awareness Week to learn the steps to prevent sparking a wildfire.
More than 90 percent of the wildfires in California are sparked by the activity of people, so Cal Fire has joined local and federal fire agencies in the “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire” campaign in hopes of getting the public to practice fire safety outdoors and prevent sparking a wildfire.
Residents looking for additional information on how to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfire can visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org .
The site offers tips for residents to make their homes more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their families are ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes.
ACCUWEATHER GLOBAL WEATHER CENTER – AccuWeather reports the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set for this week.
Especially favorable viewing conditions are in store for parts of the Southeast and Southwestern U.S., with fair conditions throughout much of California, including Lake County.
The shower's peak lasts from the evening hours of Tuesday, May 5, into the predawn hours of Wednesday, May 6, but meteors can still be seen several days before and after the peak, according to Slooh, a community observatory that has connected telescopes to the Internet for public use.
The Eta Aquarids take their name from the star Eta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius.
Due to the fact Aquarius sits south of the celestial equator, those in the southern hemisphere will be able to view as many as 30 to 60 meteors per hour, according to Slooh.
For northern stargazers, about half as many meteors will be seen near the peak, Slooh said.
Astronomy fans who will encounter inclement weather or cloudy skies can view Slooh's live broadcast of the meteor shower on the night of May 5.
Slooh frequently airs live astronomy events by using its large network of community observatories from all around the world. After the event concludes, Slooh will show a replay of the event.
While many in the Southeast and Southwest will have optimal viewing weather, others throughout the U.S. will not be as fortunate.
Across the center of the nation, a slow-moving storm system that will first bring a flood threat and some severe thunderstorms to the southern High Plains later Monday into Tuesday, will prevent observers from getting a clear view, according to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
Elsewhere, a cold front that will cut into the warmth moving into the Northeast for the start of the week will bring a band of showers and thunderstorms to parts of the Northeast, Pydynowski said.
Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest, a storm system bringing showers and thunderstorms will impede viewing opportunities, she added.
In addition to inclement weather, a bright waning gibbous moon will interfere with this year's event, according to EarthSky.
Viewers can look anywhere in the sky to catch a glimpse of the meteors and the best time to observe will be an “hour or two” before dawn, EarthSky said.
Kevin Byrne is a staff writer for www.AccuWeather.com .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week will hold a swearing-in ceremony for two new members and conduct a public hearing on a use permit application for a cell phone tower.
The commission, sitting jointly as the Clearlake Parks and Recreation Committee, will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the start of the meeting new commissioners Nathalie Antus and Dirk Slooten will take their oaths of office.
The main item of business on the Tuesday agenda is a public hearing on a proposed mitigated negative declaration, a use permit and a height variance application for Verizon Wireless to construct a mono-pine cell phone tower at 15696 25th Ave.
The staff report to the commission said the project proposes to build the tower – which will be constructed to look like a pine tree – in a low density residential district.
The tower will be 70 feet tall, have three antenna sectors, a 30 kilowatt diesel emergency backup generator, a 132-gallon fuel tank and a 12-foot by 17-foot prefabricated unmanned equipment shelter. The report said power and utilities to the site will be routed underground.
Staff is recommending approval of the mitigated negative declaration, permit and variance based on a number of conditions and requirements common to such projects.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
As motorcycle fatalities and injuries have increased in California, the California Highway Patrol and Office of Traffic Safety have stepped up their efforts to promote safety and education, highlighted by Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May.
In 2013, motorcycle collisions resulted in 475 fatalities and 13,143 injured victims. In 2012, 467 people were killed and 12,617 were injured, the agencies reported.
Nationwide, motorcyclists made up 14 percent of all vehicle-related fatalities in 2013, up from about 9 percent in 2004, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
“Surviving the ride must be foremost in the mind of every motorcyclist. This means taking a motorcycle safety course, wearing the proper gear, using a Department of Transportation compliant helmet and staying alert,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Every vehicle has its place on the road, but motorcyclists face additional dangers because motorcycles require exceptional handling ability and are more difficult to see.”
During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month – and throughout the year – all road users are reminded to safely "share the road" with motorcyclists, and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe.
That message is most important in California, which is home to more than 830,000 registered motorcycles – the most of any state – and more than 1.4 million motorcycle riders.
“Californians increasingly get around by means other than cars and trucks. More are bicycling, walking, taking mass transit and motorcycling,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “That also means that everyone needs to be extra cautious and looking out for everyone else, no matter what their means of transportation is.”
The CHP is statutorily responsible for California's official motorcycle safety training program. The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) trains approximately 65,000 motorcyclists every year.
As of July 2014, nearly 945,000 motorcycle riders have received training at one of the authorized CMSP training sites since the program began in 1987.
For more information or to find a training site near you, go to www.californiamotorcyclist.com .
The agencies offer these important safety reminders for motorcyclists:
– Wear the proper safety gear at all times, including a DOT-compliant helmet.
– Obey the speed limit – excess speed is the most common rider-related factor in motorcycle related crashes.
– Don’t drink and ride – DUI is a leading cause of motorcycle crashes.
– Ride within your own limits – don’t be a victim of peer pressure.
– Ride defensively – assume other drivers don’t see you.
– Survive the ride.