Ca Water Commission

Did you miss our fourth snow survey of the season? Check out the video to see how warm storms and high-elevation rain accelerated melt months ahead of schedule, impacting water supply for the remainder of the year. #SnowSurvey #California

It's California Poppy Day! The Eschscholzia Californica (California poppy) is native to the United States and Mexico, and became the official state flower of California in 1903! Time to go outside and appreciate some wildflower power!

Earth month is an opportunity for DWR to reflect on some of the important achievements we have made that help us to live more sustainably in California. Achievements, like the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, provide a statewide framework to help protect groundwater resources long term so we can continue to take care of a planet that takes care of us. #California #Groundwater #EarthMonth #Sustainability

#NationalWildlifeWeek is April 5-9, and our animal friends have a lot to say about it! #WildlifeConservation #CAWildlife #HabitRestoration #NaturePhotography

Have you spotted Yellow‑bellied marmots on Sierra rocks? These plump, alpine rodents are some of our common Wildlife you'll often see! They live in colonies, whistle to warn others, eat grasses and seeds, and hibernate many months each year. #ColorMeWild #NationalWildlifeWeek

The California Water Commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the California Natural Resources Building, 715 P Street, in Sacramento. Unable to attend in person? Find out how you can watch and comment remotely at bit.ly/3NJu70C.

“What makes this year stand out is the disconnect between precipitation and snowpack. We received near-average precipitation in many parts of the state, but much of it fell as rain instead of snow. That led to one of the lowest April snowpacks on record and one of the earliest peaks we’ve seen in decades — conditions that make forecasting runoff more complex.” - Andy Reising, Manager of DWR’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Learn more at water.ca.gov/News/News-Rele… #california #snow #water #cawater #SnowSurvey2026

RT @CA_DWR: The DWR team is up at Phillips Station and getting ready to conduct the fourth snow survey of the season. Join us via YouTube L…

Join DWR staff TODAY live via YouTube as DWR conducts the fourth Phillips Station snow survey of the season! The snow survey is critical to helping forecast the amount of water that will melt and run off to state reservoirs. Watch it on YouTube at 11 a.m. ➡️ youtube.com/live/-Amfexziu… #california #snow #water #cawater #SnowSurvey2026

The success of the Tiger Creek #fuelbreak started years earlier—with planning, funding, and community commitment. That early investment proved critical when wildfire struck. youtu.be/PXT8yzgVsjA

We hear you. Our sincerest apologies... for providing too much access to the great outdoors🌲🐾 #AprilFoolsDay from California State Parks

This is the time when snowpack is typically at its peak, but March has been unusually hot with record breaking temperatures throughout the state. So, what does this mean for California’s snowpack? Check back today for the fourth Phillipssnowpack, helping forecast the amount of water that will melt and run off to state reservoirs. Watch it on YouTube live at 11 a.m. ➡️ youtube.com/live/-Amfexziu… #california #snow #water #cawater #SnowSurvey2026

At the Department of Water Resources, science is the foundation of everything we do. From water management and flood operations to ecosystem stewardship, rigorous, fast-moving science drives every decision. When it comes to managing California’s most precious resource, there’s no room for shortcuts. This work doesn’t happen in isolation. Alongside more than 1,000 scientists and engineers, DWR collaborates with government agencies, NGOs, and Tribal partners to produce and apply the sharpest science available. Every decision is tested, validated, and grounded in accuracy and real-world viability. In a rapidly changing environment, decisions don’t wait. They come quickly, often without warning, and require nimble, informed responses. We don’t always have all the answers, and we never will. But we rely on strong teams in the field: adaptable professionals making critical decisions backed by the best available science. Because science is more than data - it’s rigorous, objective, and continuously tested in the real world. Read more at water.ca.gov/News/Blog/2026… #WaterManagement #ScienceInAction #PublicService #ClimateResilience #Leadership

One fish, two fish, same fish? Scientists at DWR face the daunting task of differentiating between runs of Chinook salmon that look identical, including the threatened spring-run Chinook salmon. However, their DNA tells a different story. Thanks to our partnership to advance DWR’s environmental DNA strategy, a genetic monitoring program, scientists can better distinguish and monitor different runs and help bring the spring-run salmon population back on the path to recovery. #NationalScienceAppreciationDay #WaterScience #EndangeredSpecies #WildlifeScience

Born from local collaboration, the Tiger Creek #fuelbreak began as a grassroots effort to protect #AmadorCounty. In Aug 2025, it helped slow the Tiger Fire by reducing fuel and lowering flame intensity. 🔥🌲 youtu.be/rSIqcWbYFQE

Water that supports millions of Californians and thousands of acres of farmland begins as snow high in the Sierra Nevada. Watch below to see how it moves from the snowpack to your tap. Then, tune in next week as DWR staff go live on YouTube for the fourth Phillips Station snow survey of the season. This survey plays a critical role in forecasting how much water will melt and flow into California’s reservoirs. Watch live: youtube.com/live/-Amfexziu… #CAWater #StateWaterProject #SnowSurvey

The Governing Board of the SNC awarded $8,649,243 in #wildfire and #forestresilience grants to 10 different projects in the Sierra-Cascade that will help protect natural landscapes and nearby communities from major disturbances, such as wildfire.

California’s snowpack is melting fast. Here’s why that matters for fire risk. An early-season heat wave is rapidly melting snow across the Sierra Nevada weeks ahead of normal. Right now, that snowmelt is helping keep vegetation moist. But less snow = earlier drying. Snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, slowly releasing water into spring and early summer. When it melts too quickly, grasses and brush dry out sooner. Experts warn that early snow loss increases the chance of earlier and longer periods of fire activity, especially if warm, dry conditions continue. What to watch for: ➤ Rapid snow loss in the Sierra ➤ Warming temperatures and wind ➤ Grasses curing earlier than normal California sees fire year-round, but these conditions can bring peak fire activity sooner. Now is the time to get ready: ➡ Clear defensible space ➡ Harden your home ➡ Make a wildfire action plan ➡ Pack a go-bag #CALFIRE #FireSafety #ReadySetGo #SierraNevada #Snowpack @CA_DWR

After the 2013 Rim Fire burned 250,000+ acres, a $70.4M resilience program has helped Tuolumne County recover. Its latest milestone? A new biomass facility turning forest biomass into usable, profitable products. 🌲 sierranevada.ca.gov/opening-of-new…

Yes, even the desert has a winter! Our next ❄️ photo contest winner, taken by our State Park Interpreter Andrew, captured a Joshua tree in bloom after a storm in early January at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.