Monday June 16, 2025
The Cool Down —
Lake water levels are always somewhat seasonal, but widespread drought in California has left many reservoirs drier than usual over the last several years. Fortunately, the still-melting snowpack from snowy winters in 2023 and 2024 means that many places are now reaching capacity because of increased snowmelt.
Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir, recently reached its full capacity of 900 feet, marking a major milestone, Newsweek reported. A Department of Water Resources spokesperson told the outlet: “This will be the first time the reservoir has reached full capacity three years in a row.”
It’s also good news for Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, which has reached 94% of its capacity.
These milestones are slightly ahead of the typical seasonal schedule; Newsweek shared data that Lake Oroville’s water levels were currently sitting around 122% of its historical average for this time of year.