East Bay Watershed

The drought is over! East Bay Municipal Water District (also known as EBMUD), declared the four-year drought emergency over on May 10, 2016, even before our four-month marathon of rain from October through January! This is great news for all of us. Still, EBMUD recommends we continue to conserve and use water wisely. That makes sense, considering 1.4 million of us here in the East Bay vie for the precious commodity.

Lake Chabot provides emergency water and recreation for the East Bay

According the EBMUD’s website, the water system’s total storage is 85% full. The Mokelumne watershed—the main source of our drinking water for most of us in the East Bay—recorded precipitation at 191% of its average; the East Bay’s local reservoirs—used for emergencies—recorded precipitation at 150% of its average. In early January, the Sacramento Bee reported that the snowpack in a key location in the Sierra mountains is just 53% of average, but cited statistics from the California Department of Water Resources that the statewide snowpack is 70% of its normal.

EBMUD manages 28,000 acres of watershed land here in the East Bay. The land surrounds five reservoirs and a basin, which collect, and store water (we have delicious water). The land also provides habitat for flora and fauna, and recreation for humans. Some of the land is managed by the East Bay Regional Parks, with miles of trails to explore. To learn more about the East Bay Watershed Master Plan Update, and its goal to provide long-term management for the land and water resources: http://www.ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/east-bay-watershed-master-plan-update/