ECHO SUMMIT, California (AP) -- State water surveyors have found a nearly average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, setting the stage for tough decisions on water conservation requirements for California residents.
Regulators say the key spring measurement on Wednesday found the snowpack at about 95 percent of normal. They intend to use the figure when they reopen a discussion on whether to ease or drop the savings mandates.
During the historic drought, now in its fifth year, Californians have been ordered to use at least 20 percent less water. To comply, many have let lawns turn brown and flushed toilets less often.
The snowpack was aided by an El Nino storm system that dumped more water on the northern part of the state while leaving southern areas relatively dry.
George Kostyrko of the State Water Board says officials will consider this difference while setting new conservation targets.
The snowpack provides roughly one-third of California's water.
