… California water officials, who are conducting their monthly snow survey Friday, will find that the statewide snowpack heading into March is just under 70% of average for this point in the season. … Already, managers of the giant state and federal water projects are saying that low snowpack, which makes up nearly a third of California’s water supply, will mean scaling back water deliveries to cities and farms over the coming year. The federal government announced Thursday that irrigation agencies in the San Joaquin Valley, the state’s biggest agricultural region, would likely get just 15% of the water they requested.

Other snowpack and water supply news around the West:

• The Aspen Times (Colo.): Colorado considers earlier than normal activation of Drought Task Force as snowpack continues to lag behind 
• Denver Gazette (Colo.): Double-digit snow forecast for Denver seems less outlandish considering historical data
• The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.): Sierra Nevada snowpack just 68% of normal after whiplash winter, but water supplies are OK, experts say​
• The Business Journal (Fresno, Calif.): Valley farmers, elected officials blast 15% CVP water allocation
• Bureau of Reclamation: News release: Reclamation announces initial 2026 water supply allocations for Central Valley Project contractors