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Effects of changes in winter snowpacks on summer low flows: case studies in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

States as the climate warms over the next century, the volume of the annual Sierra Nevada snowpack is expected to decrease by ~40–90%
Analyzes records of snow water equivalent (SWE) and unimpaired stream flow records in eight snow-dominated catchments in the Sierra Nevada spanning 10–33 years
Findings suggest that annual minimum flows in some catchments could decrease to zero if peak SWE is reduced to roughly half of its historical average
Finds that for every 10% decrease in peak SWE, annual minimum flows decrease 9–22% and occur 3–7 days earlier in the year
Finds in two of the study catchments, Sagehen and Pitman Creeks, seasonal low flows are significantly correlated with the previous year's snowpack as well as the current year's snowpack
Explores how future warming could affect the relationship between winter snowpacks and summer low flows
Results suggest that a 10% decrease in peak SWE will lead to a 1–8% decrease in low flows

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