According to the latest numbers from the Nevada Natural Resource Conservation Service, 28 billion gallons of water have flowed into Lake Tahoe, CA since December 9th, 2015.  That 28 billion gallons was enough to raise Lake Tahoe by 8″.

28 billion gallons would be enough water to serve about 85,000 households for one year.

Despite all the new water, Lake Tahoe is still about 11″ below its natural rim.  Tahoe has been below its natural rim a lot lately with June 2015 being the last time it was at the rim.

“Until it gets above the rim … none of it is really useful at least in terms of our water supply and irrigation,” said Jeff Anderson, the NRCS water supply specialist told the Reno Gazette Journal

Water experts are expecting another 1.7-feet of elevation gain on Lake Tahoe between March 1st and summertime, when Tahoe typically reaches its annual high point.  That would put Tahoe at 10″ above its natural rim which would give the Truckee River (Tahoe’s only outlet) a strong flow.

“After the last few years that is going to seem like a lot.” – Chad Blanchard, federal water master for the Truckee and Carson rivers told the Reno Gazette Journal

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, though, warns Chad.

“We could still end up 70 percent or we could end up 200 percent.  There is a lot of winter left.” – Chad Blanchard told the Reno Gazette Journal

It very well may be a great summer to be up in Lake Tahoe with a full lake and a raging, partying Truckee River scene.

It’s been a great year for snow in Tahoe with Sugar Bowl already at 363″ of snowfall right now and the statewide snowpack at 114% of average.

TOP 5 CALIFORNIA SKI RESORT SNOWFALL TOTALS:

#1 = Sugar Bowl = 363″

#2 = Boreal = 317.5″

#3 = Sierra-at-Tahoe = 313″

#4 = Northstar = 308″

#5 = Kirkwood = 304″

CALIFORNIA SNOWPACK UPDATE as of FEB 2ND, 2016:

• 120% of average in Northern Sierra

• 116% of average in Centra Sierra (Tahoe/Mammoth)

• 106% of average in Southern Sierra

• 114% of average Statewide