How full are major California reservoirs as state exits another wet winter?
Published in Science & Technology News
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The majority of California’s reservoirs are above their historic average levels following the end of two wet winters.
The state’s largest reservoirs, Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, were measured at a respective 118% and 122% of their averages for early April, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources.
Folsom Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills exits early April at 116%.
Only two reservoirs, San Luis in western San Joaquin Valley and Castaic in Southern California, were below average.
San Luis Reservoir was at just 87% and much smaller Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County was at 92%.
A boosted snowpack, ‘abnormally dry’ conditions
An update from the U.S. Drought Monitor last week shows a few portions of California remain “abnormally dry.”
A weekly map that illustrates drought intensities across the country shows the state’s “abnormally dry” status has not budged from 4.5% since March 5.
That’s an improvement from 7% on Feb. 27.
The state’s boosted snowpack and a strategic water plan could help kick the remaining dry spots.
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