Sierra Nevada region struggles to find homes buried under snow 3 stories high

March 30, 2011 – CALIFORNIA – A drought that loomed over some of California’s most fertile farmland officially ended Wednesday after a winter of relentless mountain storms that piled snow up to three stories high and could keep some ski resorts open until the Fourth of July. More than 61 feet of snow has fallen in the Sierra Nevada high country so far this season, second only to 1950-51, when 65 feet fell, according to records kept by the California Department of Transportation. And more snow is possible in April, raising the prospect of an all-time record. When it melts, the snow will bring relief to hundreds of communities and many farms that provide fruits and vegetables to the nation. The wet winter means state and federal water agencies will be able to provide more water to urban and agricultural areas as the snowmelt fills reservoirs this summer. The Sierra snowpack is crucial for California’s water supply. As it melts, it feeds a vast system of lakes and aqueducts that move water from the north through the agriculturally rich Central Valley and eventually to Southern California, where most of the state’s residents live. – New Tribune