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Volume 170 • Issue 40 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, April 5, 2021
Snow survey shows dry year ahead
Golden moment
Mountain Democrat staff The final snow survey for this water year showed the state continues to experience drought-like conditions, although the outlook is better in northern and central parts of the state than in Southern California. Conducted on Thursday by California Department of Water Resources staff at the Phillips Station snow course, the manual survey recorded 49.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 21 inches, which is 83% of average for the location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Measurements from DWR’s electronic snow survey stations scattered across the Sierra indicate that statewide the snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 16.5 inches — 59% of average for the date. April 1 is typically when California’s snowpack is the deepest and has the highest snow water equivalent. “While there is some snow on the ground today at Phillips Station there is no doubt California is in a critically dry year. State agencies, water suppliers and Californians are more prepared than ever to adapt to dry conditions and meet the challenges that may be ahead,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 90% of the state is already experiencing drought conditions. El Dorado County falls in the category of experiencing a “moderate drought.” The severity of dry conditions is particularly evident in the Feather River watershed where water levels at Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, are currently at 53% of average. Statewide, following a below-average 2020 water year, California’s major reservoirs are at just 50 % capacity. The amount of water expected to enter California’s reservoirs when the snowpack melts is projected to be just 58% of average. While the southern Sierra remains well below average for both rain and snow, it’s in the northern and central part of the state where California typically receives 75% of its annual precipitation. The few storms that impacted California this year have been colder, bringing more snow than rain. This is a positive sign for the Sierra snowpack, which accounts for 30% of California’s freshwater supply in an average year. For water year 2021 the snowpack in the northern and central Sierra peaked at 70% of average, however rain is below 50% of average, which ties this year for the third driest year on record. Despite a drier than average year, DWR staff says California is better prepared for drought than in the past. Following the 2012-16 drought DWR enacted many programs focused on managing the state’s water with a strong emphasis on water
Mountain Democrat photos by Thomas Frey
Senior Caelan Bonniksen holds up the Gold Nugget Game trophy after El Dorado High School defeated Union Mine High School 20-16 Thursday in the rivalry matchup. The Cougars trailed by nine in the fourth quarter before storming back to win.
Cougars take back Nugget on speed and D Thomas Frey Staff writer
won events in the 100, 200 and 400 meters this season — was sprinting down the right sideline. “I was planting my feet and I saw Caelan,” Swanson said. “I just had a little gap between the safety and the corner so I just kind of touched it in there, and then Caelan just took off.” Bonniksen caught the ball around the 40-yard line and his sprinter speed showed as he flashed by multiple defenders on his way to the end zone to cut the lead
F
or years the Cougars of El Dorado High School worked tirelessly perfecting the plays in their playbook. But trailing 16-7 with 6:57 to play in the fourth quarter of the Gold Nugget Game against Union Mine High School, the Cougars went with a play they just picked up the day before and had only practiced The El Dorado High School Cougars stand under the Bell Tower in Downtown twice. Placerville after winning the Gold Nugget Thursday. The Cougars rang the bell The play paid 20 times, one for each point scored. dividends and was the first step in El Dorado’s 20-16 win. sideline and pitched the ball to down to 16-14. Senior quarterback Caelan senior receiver Maximus Swanson, “I put it in a different gear,” Bonniksen took the snap from his the team’s backup quarterback. Bonniksen said. own 25-yard line and handed the While Bauer was pitching the ball It was Swanson’s first and only ball off to senior Owen Bauer, who to Swanson, Bonniksen — who has immediately ran toward the left track star speed and has already n See gold nugget, page 7
n
See Snow survey, page 7
Forum regarding noose conversation confirmed Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer An educational forum addressing topics related to the depiction of a noose and Placerville’s nickname of Old Hangtown appearing on the city seal and other city assets is coming together as prerecorded presentations that will be posted to the city's website. A date of April 7 was eyed at the March 23 Placerville City Council meeting but it's now looking more like the presentations will go live by end of day April 9. At a special City Council
meeting March 31 City Manager Cleve Morris announced the city will receive presentations April 7 and staff will then make them available to the public on the city’s website cityofplacerville. org. The confirmed topics and presenters: • History of Native Americans in the Placerville area presented by Erin Young of the Wopumnes NisenanMewuk Tribe. • Early settlement, Gold Rush, Hangtown and Dry Diggins incorporation/ un-incorporation presented by Brendan Lindsay, a
historian from California State University, Sacramento. • Name change to Placerville, Pony Express, John Studebaker, the volunteer fire department and early industries presented by Nathan Hallam, a historian from California State University, Sacramento. • 1900s Placerville: Major industries, notable figures and events and the Lincoln Highway presented by Jill Kearney, local historian and president of the El Dorado County Historical Society. • Placerville today: Demographics, major
The city of Placerville mocked up a version of the city logo without the noose after a discussion in July 2020. Courtesy graphic
industries, current challenges and opportunities and exploring the city’s role, if any, as the county seat, presented by
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former City Council member John Clerici. • Role of minority groups in Placerville area history presented by Michael Saunders with the Social Justice Coalition of California. Following the presentations the City Council is expected at its next meeting to vote on the isolated topic of removing the noose from the city seal.
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