EBMUD Worried About Water Supply Despite March Rains

Despite above average rainfall in March, East Bay Municipal Utility District officials are casting a wary eye at their reservoirs and snowpack.

In a report issued to the EBMUD board on Tuesday, district officials said they may need to make a decision in late April whether to take action to protect the district's water supplies.

District officials reported Tuesday their reservoirs are at 73 percent of capacity, a status they denoted as "fair."

The rainfall in its East Bay watershed was 15.7 inches, about 65 percent of normal, the report said. In the Mokelumne basin, it's 22 inches, 55 percent of average.

The snowpack in the Mokelumne watershed was 36 percent of normal. Statewide, the snowpack was 46 percent of average.

In their report, district officials note EBMUD is fortunate that 2011 was a wet year. They say 2012 has been usually dry. Another dry winter could spell trouble because the district's reservoirs only hold enough water to meet customers needs for two years.

EBMUD serves 1.3 million customers in a 331-square-mile area that includes western Contra Costa County, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Castro Valley, the San Ramon Valley, Walnut Creek and Lamorinda.