Shasta Dam - Water Education Foundation (2024)

Aquafornia news May 21, 2024 Fox 40 - Sacramento

Pictures taken from a NASA satellite earlier this month show a big difference in the water level at Shasta Lake from just two years ago. According to NASA, the older photo shows the lake at around 40% capacity, the low water level leaving a bright outline around California’s biggest reservoir. The more recent aerial photo shows the lake as it is approaching full capacity.As of May 20, Shasta Lake is at 97% of its 4,552,000 acre-feet capacity, about 15% above average for this time of year. The lake was similarly full last year at about 98% of capacity on May 29, 2023. California’s second-biggest reservoir, Lake Oroville, is currently at 100% capacity, 27% fuller than average.

Related article:

• Newsweek: California’s Lake Shasta Full Second Year in a Row, Satellite Images Reveal

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Aquafornia news May 9, 2024 Los Angeles Times

After another wet winter, record rainfall has turned California green and replenished the state’s reservoirs, which had been perilously low during the worst days of the drought. Lake Oroville, the state’s second-biggest reservoir, often serves as a rainfall barometer. As of Tuesday, Oroville was at 100% capacity, according to data from the state Department of Water Resources. …The left photograph shows Enterprise Bridge on Dec. 21, 2022, when the lake was at 29% of its total capacity. The right side shows the same area April 24, 2024, when the lake was at 96% of capacity — a figure it has now eclipsed. As of May 7, Lake Oroville was at 128% of its historical level. Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, was 97% full Tuesday, or 115% of its historical level.

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Aquafornia news April 22, 2024 Redding Record Searchlight

Already fuller this year than it was at this time a year ago, Lake Shasta continues to fill, creeping toward the top ― sometimes rising just inches a day. But by early May, the lake level is expected to stop rising and the long draw-down of the lake will begin again and continue through the summer. The lake is expected to reach about 5 feet from full sometime in early May, according to Michael Burke, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Shasta Dam. …Two years ago, conditions at the lake were dire, with the water level down to historically low levels. …But with the lake fuller this year, many water agencies are receiving their full allotment of water from the bureau.

Related article:

• Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes:Blog -Reservoirs-plus-snowpack water storage in the Sierra Nevada

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Aquafornia news April 16, 2024 KRCR - Redding

Shasta Lake is near its capacity for the second straight year, but officials say there still is plenty of room left to fill. As of Monday, California’s largest reservoir is just seven feet from its max capacity of 1,067 feet. This marks the first time in over a decade that Shasta Lake has remained nearly filled in back-to-back years, according to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Don Bader. While less than 10 feet of room may not sound like a lot, the reservoir still has plenty of storage space.

Related articles:

• Newsweek: California’s Largest Reservoir Is Almost Completely Full
• Drought.gov:California-Nevada Drought Status Update
• Newsweek: Yosemite Falls Surging and ‘Only Getting Bigger’

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Aquafornia news April 11, 2024 Sacramento Bee

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%.

Related articles:

• Las Vegas Sun: How full are major California reservoirs as state exits another wetwinter?
• SJV Sun: Lake Shasta expected to be full by end of April
• Mercury News: Valley Water drains Vasona Lake for routine maintenance

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Aquafornia news February 5, 2024 KRCR - Redding, Calif.

The continued wet weather in the Northstate has left quite an impact at Shasta Lake. California’s largest reservoir rose a foot from Thursday to Friday, and 5 feet from January 26 to February 2. Currently, Shasta Lake sits at 1,035 feet, roughly 30 feet from capacity. That’s an increase of 47 feet from this date last year. …Overall, the weather station at Shasta Dam has reported 36.56 inches of rain since the water year began on October 1.

Related articles:

• Yahoo News:California’s Lake Shasta rising from severe-drought levels in stunning before and after images
• Action News Now – Chico, Calif.:Water releases continue to flow through Oroville Dam spillway

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This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape whilelearning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

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This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape whilelearning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

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This tour guided participantson a virtual exploration ofthe Sacramento River and its tributaries and learn about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

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Announcement September 11, 2019

The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history had a severe impact on the water system in the town of Paradise. Participants on our Oct. 2-4 Northern California Tour will hear from Kevin Phillips, general manager of Paradise Irrigation District, on the scope of the damages, the obstacles to recovery and the future of the water district.

The Camp Fire destroyed 90 percent of the structures in Paradise, and 90 percent of the irrigation district’s ratepayer base. The fire did not destroy the irrigation district’s water storage or treatment facilities, but it did melt plastic pipes, releasing contaminants into parts of the system and prompting do-not-drink advisories to water customers.

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One of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first actions after taking office was to appoint Wade Crowfoot as Natural Resources Agency secretary. Then, within weeks, the governor laid out an ambitious water agenda that Crowfoot, 45, is now charged with executing.

That agenda includes the governor’s desire for a “fresh approach” on water, scaling back the conveyance plan in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and calling for more water recycling, expanded floodplains in the Central Valley and more groundwater recharge.

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Western Water January 4, 2019 Douglas E. Beeman

Dear Western Water readers:

The growing leadership of women in water. The Colorado River’s persistent drought and efforts to sign off on a plan to avert worse shortfalls of water from the river.And in California’s Central Valley, promising solutions to vexing water resource challenges.

These were among the topics that Western Water news explored in 2018.

We’re already planning a full slate of stories for 2019. You cansign up here to be alerted when new stories are published.In the meantime, take a look at what we dove into in 2018:

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This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape as participants learned about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. Tour participants got an on-site update of Oroville Dam spillway repairs.

• David Guy Presentation
• Willie Whittlesey Presentation
• Kevin Phillips Presentation
• Mark Oliver Presentation
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The Colorado River Basin is more than likely headed to unprecedented shortage in 2020 that could force supply cuts to some states, but work is “furiously” underway to reduce the risk and avert a crisis, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman told an audience of California water industry people.

During a keynote address at the Water Education Foundation’s Sept. 20 Water Summit in Sacramento, Burman said there is opportunity for Colorado River Basin states to control their destiny, but acknowledged that in water, there are no guarantees that agreement can be reached.

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This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape as participants learned about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. Tour participants got an on-site update of repair efforts on the Oroville Dam spillway.

• David Guy
• Christopher Williams
• Carson Jeffres
• Curt Aikens
• Kelly Peterson
• Mark Oliver
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• Draft Itinerary
• Tour Brochure - Learn More
• Presentation: Butte County and SGMA
• Presentation: Iron Mountain. Superfund Site
• Presentation: Sacramento Valley
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The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to California Water provides an excellent overview of the history of water development and use in California. It includes sections on flood management; the state, federal and Colorado River delivery systems; Delta issues; water rights; environmental issues; water quality; and options for stretching the water supply such as water marketing and conjunctive use. New in this 10th edition of the guide is a section on the human need for water.

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The 2014 tour took place October 22-24.

This 3-day, 2-night tour travels the length of the Sacramento Valley, a major source of water for California.

• Curt Aikens, Yuba County Water Agency
• Curtis Anderson, DWR, maps
• Curtis Anderson, DWR, Integrating Water Management
• Thad Bettner, Glenn Colusa ID
• Peter Buck, SAFCA, Habitat Mitigation
• Peter Buck, SAFCA
• Jeff Davids Sac Valley Groundwater
• Michelle Dooley, DWR, Groundwater
• Steve Emmons, USFWS
• Ron Ganzfried, USBR, Shasta Enlargement
• David Guy, NCWA, Overview
• David Guy, NCWA, Informational Posters
• Diana Jacobs, Sacramento River Preservation Trust
• Kisanuki and Brown, Clear Creek
• David Vogel, Natural Resources Scientists Inc.
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Western Water Magazine November 1, 2008

This printed copy of Western Water examines California’s drought – its impact on water users in the urban and agricultural sector and the steps being taken to prepare for another dry year should it arrive.

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Video May 27, 2014

This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an excellent overview of climate change and how it is already affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are underway to plan and adapt to climate.

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Maps & Posters May 20, 2014

Water as a renewable resource is depicted in this 18×24 inch poster. Water is renewed again and again by the natural hydrologic cycle where water evaporates, transpires from plants, rises to form clouds, and returns to the earth as precipitation. Excellent for elementary school classroom use.

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Maps & Posters May 20, 2014

Spanish language version of ourCalifornia Water Map

Versión en español de nuestro mapa de aguade California

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Publication May 20, 2014

The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the Central Valley Project explores the history and development of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), California’s largest surface water delivery system. In addition to the project’s history, the guide describes the various CVP facilities, CVP operations, the benefits the CVP brought to the stateand the CVP Improvement Act (CVPIA).

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Photo gallery May 16, 2014

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The 24-page Layperson’s Guide to the Delta explores the competing uses and demands on California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Included in the guide are sections on the history of the Delta, its role in the state’s water system, and its many complex issues with sections on water quality, levees, salinity and agricultural drainage, fish and wildlife, and water distribution.

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A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect gift for the water wonk in your life.

Our 24×36 inch California Water Map is widely known for being the definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts –including federally, state andlocally funded projects –thewild and scenic rivers system,and naturallakes.The map features beautiful photos of California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects, wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the textfocuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado River.

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Shasta Dam forms California’s largest storage reservoir, Shasta Lake, which can hold about 4.5 million acre-feet.

As the keystone of the federal Central Valley Project, Shasta stands among the world’s largest dams. Construction on the dam began in 1938 and was completed in 1945, with flood control as the highest priority.

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