Storage ‘crucial’ for American River Basin
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has released a study on the American River Basin that shows how changing climate could affect future water supplies. The study projects increases in temperatures of 4-7 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the 21st century, depending on the season. Hydrologic impacts show an increase in runoff during fall and winter while spring and summer showed a decrease in runoff. Warmer temperatures are driving earlier snow melts in winter rather than summer and the lost volume of runoff will affect water operations, said U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Hydrologic Engineer Ian Ferguson during a virtual press conference last week.