A proposal for incorporating aerial snow-depth markers into water supply forecasts

The advantages and disadvantages of using aerial observed snow depth markers as compared to ground snow survey data in water supply forecasting computations are described. The relative costs are discussed. A ten year study of forecasting the runoff of the Kings River by both methods is presented for comparison. Conclusions indicated that aerial observations are sufficiently accurate for early forecasts of January through March, while the ground snow surveys with actual water content measurements are far more accurate and necessary for a dependable April first forecast of the water supply expected from snowmelt.