Outdoors with Don Q: Lake and river outlook is grim for the rest of the year

We are into the first part of the month of April, winter is behind us, and the outlook is grim for the rest of the year due to our prolonged drought. Here are some things that are currently occurring and will probably occur:

Snow: Our Sierra Nevada snowpack is either non-existent or minimal at best. There are very few snowdrifts across higher elevation hiking trails. Deep snowfields and snowdrifts in the mountains are things of the past. The peaks are bare rather than smooth white with lots of snow.

Snowpacks: According to the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service in an article in the Reno Gazette Journal, here are some of the mountain snowpacks, by percent of normal: Carson River Basin: 5 percent, Lake Tahoe Basin: 3 percent, Truckee River Basin: 14 percent, and the Walker River Basin: 21 percent. That is bad!

Streams, creeks and rivers
Our streams, creeks and rivers are mere trickles of their former selves.
Instead of high-level, fast-moving, spring-run offs on those moving waters, many are so shrunken, you can either step or jump across them. Conditions can only get worse during this coming summer.

Ponds, reservoirs and lakes:
They are at record lows and still shrinking. Higher elevation lakes have been ice-free for weeks and weeks.
Some of the shrinking reservoirs and lakes have had their fish limits removed as any remaining fish will probably die in the heat of the summer.

Animals:
Mule deer have migrated into and are staying permanently in Carson City due to lack of water and feed at the higher elevations. Black bear are out of their hibernation dens earlier than normal and are already causing problems in their search for food.

IMO:
I believe that local water authorities are going to make some very drastic reductions in the near future to conserve on water usage. I suspect that our lawn and garden watering days will be reduced and our watering hours will also be reduced.

Water wasters:
Again IMO, water wasters should be hammered hard, especially those fools who let their water run continuously down the gutters. Instead of receiving warnings, they should be hurt where it really matters: In their wallets with hefty fines for first offenses.

Summer fires:
Our summer will be hot, dry and windy with the possibility of catastrophic range and/or forest fires where the trees and bushes are tinder dry. There will be some dimwits leaving unattended campfires, discarding cigarettes, driving where they don't belong, and the results will be disastrous.

Temperatures:
We have already experienced record highs temps this past Winter and in the current Spring, and you can be sure that it will only get worse. Temps in the high 90's-low 100's will become a norm with no relief from occasional rainstorms. It is going to get hot and stay hot!

Economic Impact:
The prolonged drought has already directly and indirectly affected many snow and water related industries including: Ski resorts, ski shops, snowmobile rentals, sport fishing guides, sporting good stores, boat stores, marinas, resorts, hotels, motels, lodges, restaurants, gas stations, etc.

The future:
We can only hope and pray for abnormally heavy rains (without lightning), successful fire prevention tactics; and good, old, common sense to carry us through until we revert back to the deep snows of past winters.
Until then the outlook for our part of the country is grim...at best.

Finally:
Let's all do a rain dance and hope that it works.
We need our streams, creeks, rivers, ponds, reservoirs and lakes back in the tip-top shape that they used to be many years ago. Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. Please let it rain.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you some of the waters that are suffering the most due to the drought.
If he takes a deep breath and says, "To name just a few, Boca Reservoir (26 percent of capacity), Bridgeport Reservoir (down 24 feet), Carson River, Frenchman Reservoir (37 percent) Lahontan Reservoir (all boat launches are closed), Prosser Reservoir (24 percent), Rye Patch Reservoir (boat ramp is closed), Stampede Reservoir (21 percent), Truckee River, Walker River and Wildhorse Reservoir (18 percent)," he is very knowledgeable.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine, is the outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.