Probably our lowest stream levels ever or close to 1976/1977. What this also means is there will be many smaller wild creatures that cannot migrate and depend on stream water sources that may die off by late summer unless we receive an unusual number of thunderstorms. Also many fish and amphibians that have spread into those streams since the last serious drought may also die. During normal to above normal precipitation years, animal species are able to expand into areas where enough water is present as their territories continually move against their environmental limitations that also includes elements like temperature and vegetation types. But during droughts those territories prune back to historical climate minimums. Also during late December 2011 and January 2012, the high country had very low snow depths with no storms. At exposed shallow lakes where winds could scour away even those shallow snow depths to surface ice thus removing insulation, many may have froze water top to bottom killing fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.
http://www.davidsenesac.comEdited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2012 10:52AM by DavidSenesac.
