California's Largest Reservoir Approaches Milestone Not Hit in 13 Years
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Lake Shasta water levels are on track to reach capacity for the third consecutive year, the first time it's happened since 2012.
Why It Matters
Lake Shasta, California's largest reservoir, plays a critical role in the state's water management system. Formed by the construction of Shasta Dam in the 1940s, it can hold approximately 4.5 million acre-feet of water when at full capacity, making it an essential source of water for agricultural, industrial and residential use throughout California.
Lake Shasta's recovery is crucial because it directly supports millions of Californians and the agricultural economy of the Central Valley, which is often referred to as the "breadbasket" of the United States. It is also a major contributor to environmental flows that support fish and wildlife habitats.
What to Know
During the most severe years of drought, particularly from 2020 through 2022, Lake Shasta's water levels dropped dramatically, exposing large swaths of the lakebed and causing widespread concern over water supplies across the state. In 2022, the reservoir only reached 40 percent of its entire capacity throughout the whole year.
Heavy precipitation in the winter and spring of 2023 dramatically reversed the trend. An unusually wet season helped refill Lake Shasta to full capacity by May 2023.
A vehicle drives over a mostly dry section of Shasta Lake in Lakehead, California on October 16, 2022.
A vehicle drives over a mostly dry section of Shasta Lake in Lakehead, California on October 16, 2022.
Josh Edelson/Getty
The 2024 winter season was also above average. Although this past winter was not as impressive as the previous two years, it still provided enough precipitation and snowpack to put Lake Shasta's water levels in a good place.
As of April, Lake Shasta is again nearing full capacity. On Monday, a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) spokesperson told Newsweek that Lake Shasta was 5.11 feet from full, which is 97 percent of the lake's capacity.
By Tuesday morning, the water levels were at 1,062 feet. Full capacity occurs at 1,067 feet.
In 2023 and 2024, the lake reached capacity in early May before warm, dry weather and increased water demand began to drop the lake levels during the summer months. This year, Lake Shasta's levels have been rising steadily since last November.
What People Are Saying
A USBR spokesperson told Newsweek: "The last time we had three consecutive years of being full were 2010, 2011, 2012."
Lake Oroville, the state's second largest reservoir, is also nearing capacity for the third year in a row.
What Happens Next
State water agencies are continuing to monitor Lake Shasta's levels closely. Officials have cautioned that despite current high water levels, preparation for future drought conditions remains a priority.
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