Snowpack, water in good shape

Snowpack measurements taken at Anthony Peak in the Mendocino National Forest show that precipitation this winter is slightly above average.

The average snowpack measured at the end of February was 70.4 inches, with water content measuring 25.7 inches, forest officials reported on Thursday.

Those measurements are 113 percent of the average snowpack and 105 percent of average water content, according to the report.

The historic average for this time of year is 61.8 inches of snow pack and 24.7 inches of water content.

"We started this season with a bang at 121 percent of average for water content, but are approaching average this month," said Forest Hydrologist Robin Mowery, in a statement. "There are still several decent storms predicted this season and the hope is that snow pack will be at least average this year, if not better."

For reference, 1991 was the record low with 4.1 inches of snow pack. The record high was in 1969 with 148.8 inches of snow pack.

Mendocino National Forest employees Jordan Saylor and Kevin Case took the recent snow measurements.

Snowpack and water content monitoring is an important tool in determining the coming year's water supply. The data is used by hydrologists, hydroelectric power companies, the recreation industry and other organizations.

More than 50 agencies and utilities, in coordination with the California Department of Water Resources, visit hundreds of snow measurement courses in California's mountains as part of the Cooperative Snow Surveys Program. For more information on California snow surveys, please visit http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow .

Originally established in 1944, the Anthony Peak snow course provides data for precipitation draining into the Grindstone watershed into Stony Creek and the Black Butte Reservoir, ending in the Sacramento River.

Runoff from the Mendocino National Forest is critical in providing surface water and ground water for the surrounding communities.