Disappointing

At least March was better than February (Chronicle image)

The big storm that we anticipated last week didn't exactly fizzle, but it was disappointing.

California’s all-important snowpack measured 39 percent of average for the date at Phillips Station in El Dorado County, the state’s traditional survey spot south of Lake Tahoe, while snowpack statewide measured 37 percent of average.

The good news is that stored water from last year's storms should allow for normal consumption in 2018.

California’s reservoirs remain at average levels for this time of year because of last winter’s bounty, state water officials said. The supply is enough for most communities to weather the year, even if there aren’t any more big storms.

I'd much rather spend the tens of billions about to be wasted on the high-speed rail project (that will be finished in 2030, they say) on water storage. HSR will be used by thousands of travelers while the latter will benefit 40 million Californians.

As the President suggested in his State of the Union speech, I can dream, too.