California's Biggest Reservoir Loses 265 Billion Gallons of Water

california's biggest reservoir loses 265 billion gallons of water

The Pit River Bridge stretches over a drying section of Shasta Lake in Lakehead, California on October 16, 2022. The lake’s water levels have since recovered, and water officials are releasing excess water from Shasta Dam.

Lake Shasta has lost over 265 billion gallons of water in one month.

After years of drought, several reservoirs in California reached concerningly low water levels in the summer of 2022. However, an abnormally wet winter last year alleviated much of the state’s drought and replenished the lakes. Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, neared capacity last year.

The lake has dropped eight feet over the past week, but officials aren’t concerned. In fact, they’re voluntarily releasing the water through Shasta Dam because the lake’s levels were too high for February.

Releases from the dam, also known as “flood operations, started January 31. Officials began the releases after a series of atmospheric rivers brought excessive precipitation to the Golden State throughout January and February. Another moisture-laden storm hit California over the weekend.

The last time officials had to conduct flood operations at the lake was in 2019, Dan Bader, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation area manager in Northern California, told Newsweek.

In the month since the releases began this year, more than 265 billion gallons of water have been released from the reservoir. Before the flood operations, water officials were releasing slightly over 3 million gallons per day for normal wintertime releases, Bader said.

Since flood operations began, enough water has been released from the lake to fill 540,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“Last winter, we stored everything that came in,” Bader said, adding that typically flood operations occur at Lake Shasta once every five years.

Release flows were reduced last week, he said.

However, there’s a chance that flood operations could resume if more storms hit California this month. The most recent storm pummeled California with heavy snow and was expected to vastly improve California’s snowpack levels, which were below normal before the storm. California relies on snowmelt through the spring to supplement as much as a third of the state’s water supply.

Despite the releases, Lake Shasta is still in a much-improved state compared with last year. As of Monday morning, its water levels were at 1,038 feet—where it has remained since last Friday. This time last year, the lake was at 997 feet, and in February 2022 it was at 938 feet.

Water officials have conducted flood operations at other reservoirs throughout the state as well.

In February, the California Department of Water Resources opened the spillway at Oroville Dam at Lake Oroville to release water ahead of moisture-laden winter storms. The water was recaptured downstream, and the release provided flood mitigation for downstream communities.

Related Articles

    Start your unlimited Newsweek trial

    News Related

    OTHER NEWS

    Lawsuit seeks $16 million against Maryland county over death of pet dog shot by police

    A department investigator accused two of the officers of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says. Read more »

    Heidi Klum shares rare photo of all 4 of her and Seal's kids

    Heidi Klum posted a rare picture with husband Tom Kaulitz and her four kids: Leni, 19, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14, having some quality family time. Read more »

    European stocks head for flat open as markets struggle to find momentum

    This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets. European markets are heading for a flat open Tuesday, continuing lackluster sentiment seen at the start of the week in the region ... Read more »

    Linda C. Black Horoscopes: November 28

    Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (11/28/23). This year energizes your work and health. Faithful domestic routines provide central support. Shift directions to balance your work and health, before adapting around team ... Read more »

    Michigan Democrats poised to test ambitious environmental goals in the industrial Midwest

    FILE – One of more than 4,000 solar panels constructed by DTE Energy lines a 9.37-acre swath of land in Ann Arbor Township, Mich., Sept. 15, 2015. Michigan will join ... Read more »

    Gaza Is Falling Into ‘Absolute Chaos,’ Aid Groups Say

    A shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has allowed a surge of aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza, but humanitarian groups and civilians in the enclave say the convoys aren’t ... Read more »

    Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families to march together in anti-hate vigil

    Demonstrators march against the rise of antisemitism in the UK on Sunday – SUSANNAH IRELAND/REUTERS Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families will march together as part of an anti-hate vigil on ... Read more »
    Top List in the World