Overview
- Lake Shasta has climbed more than 35 feet since mid-December and is now about 79% full, or 132% of normal for the date, according to state data.
- Lake Oroville stands at roughly 74% of capacity, or 135% of its historical average, after rising about 69 feet over three weeks.
- Combined, Shasta and Oroville have captured around 1.6 million acre-feet of water in three weeks, substantially reducing near-term shortage risk.
- Operators at Shasta, Oroville and Folsom have increased releases to maintain flood space as most major reservoirs sit above typical seasonal levels.
- Recent storms strengthened the Sierra snowpack, with the first state survey finding roughly 71% of average, and forecasters expect a turn to drier weather even as some rivers remain in minor flood stage.