Silver Apron And Emerald Pool
November 06, 2002
Provided by: E Brizee
Summary authors & editors: E Brizee; Jim Foster
In Yosemite National Park, California, the Merced River flows down the polished granite aqueduct of the Silver Apron into the Emerald Pool. The above photo was taken on October 4, 2002. In early autumn, water levels are usually very low since the previous year's snowmelt has been exhausted, and there's very little precipitation during the summer months. Throughout most of California, and indeed across much of the western US, water deficits typically occur from about June through October - during this period evaporation is greater than rainfall. Thus, it's important to carefully manage the water acquired during the winter season when precipitation exceeds evaporation. Melting snow can account for upwards of 70% of the water supply in the mountainous western states.
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