11 billion gallons of water added to Lake Tahoe; Lake rises 3" during latest storm
Submitted by paula on Tue, 10/18/2016 - 4:43pm
South Lake Tahoe saw over six inches of rain during the series of three storms over the weekend, which did a lot more than bring a little snow to upper elevations.
The storm also send an estimated 11 billion gallons of water into Lake Tahoe according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. This is equivalent to the average total consumptive water use in a year from the Truckee River by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. The average metered household in the Truckee Meadows uses about 121,000 gallons a year.
The 11 billion gallons is equal to 33,600 acre-feet of water, and rose Lake Tahoe by 3 1/2 inches.
"The very wet atmospheric river storms we received over the weekend provided much needed heavy rainfall to the region," said the NWS in Reno.
The vast majority of water into the lake came from direct rainfall versus the normal runoff input to the lake.
Even with this added water, Lake Tahoe remains a little over 2.5 inches below the natural rim level of 6,223 feet.
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