Final Sierra snowpack better than expected

RENO (AP) " The final winter snowpack survey in the eastern Sierra shows snow totals below average, but better than expected.

Water experts say the Truckee River basin is at 83 percent of normal compared to 85 percent last April 1.

A big snowstorm at the beginning of March helped turn what looked like a dismal snow season into a near average one in both western and northeastern Nevada.

"It's not as good as I'd like it to be, but it's better than I thought it would be a month ago," said Dan Greenlee, a hydrologist and snow surveyor with the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Officials say the Reno-area should have adequate water supplies for the summer without having to tap drought reserves.

Surveys in other parts of the region showed:

- Lake Tahoe basin, 74 percent of normal, compared to 86 percent last year

- Carson basin, 86 percent of normal, compared to 84 percent last year

- Walker basin 84 percent of normal, compared to 93 percent last year

In northeast Nevada, the Upper Humboldt River Basin had snow depths up to 63 inches at the top of Lamoille Canyon down to a meager 7 inches at Harrison Pass. Overall, the basin stood at 79 percent of average.

"At this point, some of the south facing slopes and valley bottoms are free of snow," said Gerald Miller of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Lower Humboldt River Basin was in slightly better shape at 89 percent of average, with snow depths up to 56 inches at Big Creek Summit.

Clover Valley and Franklin River basins were weakest at 84 percent of average, while Owyhee and Snake River basins were around 95 percent.