California Snowpack & River Runoff
Snow-water equivalent by basin and the seasonal runoff outlook for California's rivers, translated into what it means for fishing — early or late runoff, high or low summer flows, and which waters hold up best. Updated daily through the snow season.
California's snowpack is running thin this year — the statewide figure of 0% of normal means runoff peaked early and summer flows will thin out faster than usual. The higher-elevation freestones won't fish for long; tailwaters and spring creeks will carry more of the season.
If you're planning trips this year, bias toward tailwaters with cold dam releases and spring creeks that aren't snowmelt-driven. Smaller freestones in the lower elevations may warm into marginal water by mid-summer.
0%
| River | Region | Basin snowpack | SWE now / normal | Median melt-out | Runoff forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Kern River | Southern Sierra | 14% | 2.1" / 15.5" | — | — |
| Upper Kern River | Southern Sierra | 10% | 1.7" / 17.0" | — | — |
| Hot Creek | Eastern Sierra | 3% | 0.6" / 20.1" | — | — |
| Owens River | Eastern Sierra | 3% | 0.6" / 20.1" | — | — |
| Pit River | Northern California | 3% | 0.7" / 22.4" | — | — |
| Trinity River | Northern California | 2% | 0.7" / 30.0" | — | — |
| Upper Sacramento River | Northern California | 2% | 0.8" / 32.8" | — | — |
| Feather River | Sierra Foothills | 1% | 0.3" / 35.0" | — | — |
| Merced River | Central Sierra | 1% | 0.3" / 29.1" | — | — |
| Yuba River | Sierra Foothills | 1% | 0.4" / 36.0" | — | — |
| Kings River | Southern Sierra | 0% | 0.1" / 30.4" | — | — |
| East Fork Carson River | Eastern Sierra | — | 0.0" / 0.0" | ~May 29 | 47% |
| East Walker River | Eastern Sierra | — | — | — | 31% |
| Little Truckee River | Eastern Sierra | — | 0.0" / 0.0" | ~Jun 2 | 53% |
| Truckee River | Eastern Sierra | — | 0.0" / 0.0" | ~Jun 2 | — |
| West Fork Carson River | Eastern Sierra | — | 0.0" / 0.0" | ~May 30 | 49% |
| West Walker River | Eastern Sierra | — | 0.0" / 0.0" | ~Jun 30 | 35% |