Most Nevada reservoirs at 80% capacity or more
Nevada can expect a healthy water year — with some caveats — thanks to a hardy winter snowpack and generous spring showers.
As snow melts through the summer, most key reservoirs in Northern Nevada and the Sierra are expected to reach full volume this spring, according to the Natural Resource Conservation Services' May water supply outlook report.
Across the state, winter snowpack peaked above the historical median after strong storms in January, February and March.
Snowpacks in Nevada also remained above normal in May, despite a dry April and areas of record snowmelt, according to the report. The month started off strong, after a cold storm brought up to 2 feet of snow at the highest elevations across Northern Nevada, adding up to 1.5 inches of water equivalent.
Lake Tahoe is expected to see some of the largest benefits from Nevada's second straight year of favorable winter snowpack, according to Nevada Current.
Forecasts predict spring snowmelt will likely be enough to fill Lake Tahoe for the first time since June 2019. Once full, the water stored in Lake Tahoe could supply water demand in Northern Nevada for three years, even if future winter snowpacks are below normal.
With the glaring exception of Lake Mead, nearly all major Nevada