California

Water levels plunge at California’s biggest reservoir ahead of winter storm

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

Water levels plunge at California’s biggest reservoir ahead of winter storm

Water levels have plunged by nearly 7 feet at Lake Shasta over the course of the week as officials prepare for more precipitation from an incoming storm.

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. For example, Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, neared capacity last year.

Now, after a series of atmospheric rivers that have saturated the state, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is voluntarily releasing water from Shasta Dam because the lake’s levels are too high for February, according to Don Bader, the area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Shasta Lake, California’s largest water reservoir, feeding the Sacramento River, is at 30% capacity and at historically low levels impacting hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture as viewed under slightly smoky conditions on August 5, 2021,…

Getty

Bader told Newsweek that the releases, also known as “flood operations”, began on January 31.

The last time officials had to conduct flood operations at the lake was in 2019.

“Last winter stored everything came in,” Bader said, adding that typically flood operations occur at Lake Shasta once every five years. “We are dialing them down and reducing flows this week.”

However, there’s a chance flood operations could resume if more storms hit California in March.

Despite the release, Lake Shasta is still in a much-improved state when compared to last year. As of Friday morning, Lake Shasta water levels were at 1,038 feet. This time last year, the lake was at 996 feet, and in February 2022, the lake was at 938 feet.

It’s not the first time officials have voluntarily released water from a California reservoir this year. 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.

Even with the recent release, Lake Shasta is still 26 feet higher than it was at the start of the year. The lake is expected to receive more water inflow in the coming weeks as a winter storm brings multiple feet of snow to some high-elevation areas. Rain is expected for lower-elevation areas.

Six weather warnings were in place throughout California on Friday as a massive storm threatened to dump more than 100 inches of snow in some high-elevation areas in less than 72 hours over the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of heavy snow in the higher elevations of Shasta County, which is where Lake Shasta is located.

“Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 feet, locally higher over peaks. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph,” the winter storm warning said.

The warning was issued early Friday morning and will remain in place through Sunday night.

The excessive snowfall is expected to vastly improve California’s snowpack levels, which were below normal before the winter storm. California relies on snow melt through the spring to supplement as much as a third of the state’s water supply.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Source link

Related Topics:California Drought Featured lakes rain snow water weather

Click to comment

California

Loved ones search for missing 15-year-old Southern California girl

Published

8 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Loved ones search for missing 15-year-old Southern California girl

Loved ones are searching for a Southern California girl who has been missing for more than six months.

Keylin Reyes-Moreno, 15, was reported missing on Sept. 22, 2025, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Reyes-Moreno was last seen in the Pacoima area.

She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown hair and dark brown eyes.

Keylin Reyes-Moreno, 15, was last seen in Pacoima on Sept. 22, 2025. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

She may have been heading to the Los Angeles area when she disappeared.

Her family did not mention any health or mental issues that would’ve contributed to her disappearance. They have not heard from her since and are very concerned for her well-being.

Anyone who may know Keylin Reyes-Moreno’s whereabouts or has information on the case is asked to call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or the Los Angeles Police Department at 877-275-5273.

Source link

California

Springs Fire in southern California reaches 45% containment as evacuations continue

Published

20 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Springs Fire in southern California reaches 45% containment as evacuations continue

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Crews were making progress Saturday battling a fast-growing and smoky wildfire in southern California that broke out Friday morning, prompting mandatory evacuations and warnings.

Now encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, the Springs Fire was 45% percent contained on Saturday, according to a state website. It was 25% contained on Friday.

More than a dozen zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, while six have been dropped. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.

Firefighters were battling strong winds. The National Weather Service issued an advisory for 15 mph to 20 mph winds, with gusts up to 45 mph, into Saturday afternoon. An air quality alert has also been issued for harmful fine particle pollution levels due to wildfire smoke.

Hundreds of people have been battling the blaze using helicopters, engines and water tenders. It’s located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000. The city is 10 miles southeast of Riverside and 64 miles east of Los Angeles.

Source link

California

A fast-growing wildfire in windy Southern California triggers evacuations

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

A fast-growing wildfire in windy Southern California triggers evacuations

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A smoky and fast-growing wildfire Friday in windy Southern California has prompted multiple evacuation orders and warnings.

The Springs Fire broke out at around 11 a.m. Friday and by the evening had grown to about 5.47 square miles (14.17 square kilometers), with fire crews starting to contain it. The cause of the fire east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County is under investigation. It was not immediately known how many households are under evacuation warnings or orders.

The fire was burning in a populated — but not densely so — unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000. The city is 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.

Springs Fire In Moreno Valley Explodes To Burn Over 3,500 Acres — A firefighting aircraft sprays red flame retardant at the site of the Springs Fire, on Friday.Qian Weizhong / VCG via Getty Images

“It’s windy out there,” said Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Riverside County.

Alex Izaguirre, a spokesperson for the Cal Fire Riverside County, said the wind is “spreading the smoke,” prompting concerned calls from residents in neighboring cities who can see and smell the smoke.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys through Saturday afternoon, with gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kph) expected.

“Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” the advisory read.

Source link