California Reservoir Update | Is California's Drought Over?
Welcome to timeBomb! In this episode, we take a look at the recent atmospheric rivers that have battered California, causing unprecedented rainfall, evacuations, and widespread damage. With record-breaking precipitation, the question on everyone's mind is: How have these massive rain events affected California's reservoirs? Join us as we take a comprehensive look at the state's major water storage facilities, from the overflowing banks of Lake Shasta to the slightly less fortunate San Luis Reservoir.
We review the six largest reservoirs in California, examining changes in water levels and storage capacity following the recent atmospheric rivers. Beyond the individual reservoirs, we provide a snapshot of water storage across California's 1,300+ reservoirs and how they compare to historical averages. A crucial component of California's water supply, we analyze the current state of the snowpack in the Northern, Central, and Southern Sierra regions and its potential to replenish the state's water reserves.
Looking Ahead:
With more than a month left in the rainy season, the fate of California's water reserves is still unfolding. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to monitor the situation and provide you with the latest and most accurate information.
California Major Reservoir Storage Report - cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/j...
#California #AtmosphericRiver #Snowpack
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:42 California's Reservoirs
05:58 Statewide Storage
07:28 Snowpack Report
I was born and raised in Reno Nevada back in the 60's and 70's and can remember many drought years and flood years. I ve seen the Truckee river which drains out of Lake Tahoe both a trickle in the summer and a raging wall of water in the spring... many times. Fishing through California many of the reservoirs went up and down like yoyos. I remember witnessing the first ever spillway release of water from Lake Shasta where they used it to clear a large log accumulation. That was in 1979 and a pretty amazing thing to see. Water comes and goes.
I am from Fallon. I lived in Reno longer and I am older than you. I agree with everything you wrote. But, I blame it all on global warming, or cooling, or just on a roll of the dice.
There are numerous factors responsible for California's water shortage; people and usage being #1. 1950 - 10.7m population; 2020 - 39.5m. And sadlly, people use water in their daily lives as if it is free and ample. However, this attitude is changing slowly, but surely.
@@benduckx9367 An excellent reply, full of details. Thanks.
@@40MileDesertRat I spent lots of time in Fallon growing up. My dad was a member of the Canvas Back Duck Club out at the Still Water Marshes. With climate, there are things going on that we still haven't got figured out. One thing for sure is that the changes are happening faster than we thought they would. Being in the last quarter of my wear cycle I probably won't see the worst of what's to come which is okay with me. I've lived as 'green' a life as possible but figure that just being alive and breathing makes me a contributing factor to this climatic change. When I arrived in the 50's there were ~2.5 billion people, 70 years later there's ~8 billion and everyone wants to be affluent. There really is no way to stop the momentum of out of control population growth.
@@40MileDesertRatthat is exactly what he just said! Not in so many words?!
If anyone goes to the trouble of bringing me honest information, I always give it a thumbs up whether I like the story or not! Honesty has lots of value today, thanks for your honesty!
Honestly it might be Dem propaganda! Think about everything you hear honestly!
That's funny. Anyone who thinks they'll find honesty in either of these corrupt parties is a ignorant putz
@@jwfinley7808 facts be propaganda?
Drought and flood are always there and never go away. Mother nature is cyclic. Rainey seasons can run 3 to 5 years and Drought 5 to 7 or more.
My experience of watching the water situation in Northern California, what matters the most is if Mount Shasta gets the snow pack. I’ve witnessed situations where we had a full Shasta lake but by summer it was halfway empty without the help of melted snow coming from Shasta. There’s been a time or two where Mount Shasta had a good snow pack but the lake was empty, but we got through. And then of course there’s the issue of how the reservoirs are not properly used to affectively save enough to not waste it.
It will never be over...
Bravo for this report! Thanks for all the work and graphics to put this all together.
Our water district also pumps water back into the aquifer from which it also extracts water when needed.
With the next round of El Nino driven storms beginning this coming weekend, this should continue to improve.
Some of the flooding in California is not the amount of rain in a give day but a huge lack of our Cities keeping the rivers and flood channel clear.
Local preventive maintenance has become a joke in Texas also. They just hope for federal funds to hire contractors to repair and replace.
So true. The house I currently live in was flooded in the 1970s-the entire tract was flooded. The river could have handled the excessive rain, but so much debris built up under the two bridges that go over the river that the water just spilled over into town. It took several hours to make the tough decision to dynamite the bridge, but by then the damage had been done.
BS!
A very good macro view of California's water storage. I'd like to see a video on the the Colorado river system's contribution to our water situation. Thanks.
Lake Powell’s snowpack is 91% of average and the lake is up 40 feet from last year.
Colorado snowpack is around 99-100 percent right now for most upper river basins feeding into the Colorado River, and we tend to get more snow in March.
Great video. Thanks for putting this together.
The government in California will never claim the water shortage over. And end restrictions and high water cost.
Right, even though we have so-called 'ATMOSPHERIC LAKES' and 'ATMOSPHERIC OCEANS' dumping on us! Wonder what kind of focus groups they employed in the development of these dumb new phrases...
Good stuff! Beefier numbers for the snowpack, that's for sure. Keep your numbers coming...your channel is one of the better 'water'channel's' on the internet; why? Meaningful numbers without a bunch of veral redirect. Thanks for report!
Thanks for the update
Good report! Thanks
They are currently releasing water from Shasta our bypass on highway 20 in Sutter county has water from levee to levee. It doesn’t look like they are releasing much if any from Oroville the Feather river remains in its banks under the bridge that crosses over the river between Yuba and Sutter County.
Good info thank you sir!
good report. thanks!!
Great video! Please follow up with snow pack reports to complete the drought picture.
Thank you sir for your service! This type of information is hard to get preciate it...
Excellent report! Thxs...
Good coverage. Thank you
Great too the point video. But I wish you did briefly touch on the Colorado river’s reservoirs as well.
We’ll wish for rain when we get temps of 110° - 112° like we’re starting to experience during the summer & fall months in Los Angeles county!
Great job! Thanks
Excellent 👏
Good stuff mate
Good report 👍
i am 56 in my life time i have seen this same exact scenario at least 3 times in California give or take a few inches of rain. massive water and landslides in the 80's and 90's
Thank you!
It is not the just reservoirs, it is the aquifers that need to be replenished.
I’m appreciate the above average video❤
So is this your real voice? WOW. Love the new format. Do you have contact information? I still haven't had an answer as to why your old videos disappeared.
Everything is Artificial Intelligence now.😂
@@underthetornado Yeah, is anything really real???🤣
Great report. However, the reservoirs are only part of the picture when it comes to the drought. We also have to look at water tables, since a lot of our water comes from wells. I haven’t heard about that this year, but water tables were still low after last year’s rains.
It should be noted that the San Luis Reservoir does not sit on a major drainage. Most of its water is pumped in from the California Aqueduct as additional storage.
They need to keep these lakes as full as possible. Never know when a drought might come again❤❤
The problem is California does not act like they live in a desert climate they need to do the same thing Las Vegas does as far as water conservation goes all the time then when they do have droughts they will have more water on hand and it will last longer
The issue is that the majority of the population lives in those desert areas, not understand they want to live their lives like East Coast but expect other regions with their own water scarcity to pay up. Drives me nuts how wasteful the priorities are, personally I do see the value in supporting the Central Valley area cause they provide a huge source of food but the whole thing is mismanaged. Don’t get me started with the climate change activists.
Despite how much it rains (and yes it is very cyclical) the words "drought" or "water shortage" come up during the year. We've tripled the population since 1970 but haven't put enough into infrastructure to sustainably support it. When I see politicians ban watering golf courses in SoCal, then I'll believe they're getting it.
@@500dollarjapanesetoaster8 I completely agree like I said California needs to take the same measures Las Vegas does and they need to get rid of grass and start using desert style landscape if they were not watering the golf courses and yards it would save a lot of water……. combine that with the fact they grow some of the most water intensive crops out there people don’t realize how much water avocado requires and that would also do wonders
You say this, but they have bled lake mead and the Colorado river dry time and time again.
It’s easier for California to increase the water bills than doing all everything to save water.
Since I can remember as a kid we’ve been in a severe drought, always had to conserve water. So no we can be totally flooded and our wonderful politicians will still say we are in a severe drought and that I need to be charged extra taxes for water.
Helpful report. I’m concerned about the state of the aquifers. Are there any indications that there is a positive change?
I hope they don't release to much water like years ago when they thought they were going to get more water and none came leaving the state water supply in a little bit of trouble.
🖖🏻thanks for the info, I have been very curious!🖖🏻🤜🏻🤛🏻👍🏻❤🕊
Those damn managers
Drought is a distant memory.
Current storage capacity: nice
I'm from San Jose myself and I remember p.s.a.s for water conservation back in the '70's when I was a kid. Why hasn't the state done anything to catch and keep more water in the first place 😒🙄
It’s difficult for politicians to exploit the drought crisis if they did that. It’s political leverage. Plus, they can just yell “climate change” and allow the idiots to tax, regulate, and control them further.
Please cover what pumps are turned on and not that are used to replenish the underground water tables. During the last major events they are letting the water run off with minimal attention to restoration of valuable ground water.
In a lot of ways, you could say that the California drought is over... for the time being. This video didn't mention that the first epic storm that hit California fall 2023 filled practically every major reservoir end to end and all across California to 100%, or within only a percentage point or two. To ensure that there would be minimal controlled flooding during subsequent storms every reservoir was drained down to about 75%, more or less depending on predictions. This last atmospheric river dipped considerably further south of the 2023 storm and dropped at least 10x more water in SoCal than the first storm so now I expect that even SoCal reservoirs are filled to the max of wherever they want to be and are likely draining to minimize storm flooding again. Personally, I think that the state should be doing controlled flooding, particularly in the Central Valley where I understand the underground water table is in emergency status. I've heard that the elevation of some parts of the Valley are 15' lower than usual likely entirely due to drained aquifers. Although I've heard in some parts pumps that normally draw water out of the ground are injecting water, but IMO that's likely the literal drop of water in a vast sea. More than likely, the state should just be trying to capture as much water as possible and even make temporary ponds or small seas rather than let all the excess water drain to the sea. In any case, it does look like reservoirs are full and there shouldn't be an emergency shortage of potable water for the next 3 years or so. It's probably too early to know for sure how much the Colorado River might have recovered but probably most smaller rivers in California should be OK for at least the next year or so. But beyond a couple years and the Central Valley, IMO the effects of drought are still probably being felt in that although water is a lot more plentiful at the moment, I'm guessing that it's too early to consider planting crops that require a lot of water like citrus yet. But, if this year continues to drop rainfall and particularly if we experience at least a couple more years of good rainfall, maybe the drought can be declared over completely. This time.
Yall should have included Folsom and Friant dams
I think of every rain as the last rain we’ll see. Every rain is a blessing. We need to retain as much runoff as possible, build more treatment plants, and desalination plants.
Desalinization plants are more harmful to the environment. So why would you want to build them? It’s that sadistic mentality why your state is the way it is. Maybe you need to do more research before you go on thinking the way you do. That’s why you have the internet. Look things up before you blindly accept what’s being given to you as truth!
A minor rain event.....Pensacola, FL had a 500 year event that dumped 28 inches of rain in 24 hours, a total of 32 inches of rain in 36 hours....
Most of America is hoping Apophis takes care of the situation.
You should mention what the historic averages are of these lakes . . . Ha! As soon as I wrote that you mentioned the historic average of the combined largest lakes.
One thing that's missing from all these reports is the water usage per year in acre feet. Otherwise how are we to know if this will last 1 year, 2, 3 or whatever? It's like saying I have a gallon of milk in my fridge - up from a 1/4 gallon last week. But unless we know whether you live alone or have 4 teenage boys, that information is useless in determining how long it will last.
@@spocksvulcanbrain Cant know that till the late spring to see how much water farmers will need as farmers use 40%, urban use is 10% and 50% is "environmental" which means it's never taken out of the system but supports wild rivers, wetlands, wildlife preserves, flows to the ocean or evaporates.
@@hikerJohn Understood. But like the levels in the reservoirs, aren't there historical usage averages? That would be helpful.
We are never leaving our drought alert. We are in perpetual water crisis.
Only because the population keeps growing and the water infrastructure hasn’t been updated and expanded to meet those needs. We’re still hobbling along on systems built in the 50s and 60s.
If we build more reservoirs, they should be in SoCal, the mountains north and east of the LA Basin.
I live in Pittsburgh, PA and would like to move to California, but I don't know where in the state I would want to live. I'm just glad that the atmospheric rivers are bringing considerable moisture to the drought stricken state. The drought was one of the reasons I was afraid to move to the golden state!
Don't move here...unless you like living amongst drug fueled homeless addicts all around you.Oh also if you don't like your 2nd ammendment rights..this place will limit your rights quicker than they take criminals rights!!!! I'm moving out as soon as I can get to Texas...
I’m from the Philadelphia area, moved out here in ‘02. Lived in San Diego for 11 years, then relocated to Sacramento. Quick overview- SoCal costal is pretty, but very superficial. SoCal inland is arid, mountainous and the people are more down to earth, but kind of sun fried. Central CA is mostly rural and farm land, pretty hickey. Bay Area is trash, stay away. The rest of NorCal is stunningly beautiful, especially the Sierra Nevadas. People are much more normal and the “working class” type. NorCal coastal is beautiful, but sparsely populated. Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions.
Just stay home. California is doomed by bad governance and debts. Move to Florida….72 and sunny, low crime, great governance, no debt
Looking at the current drought map in Feb, 2024 is astonishing in comparsion to Feb, 2023 or any period before that.... Hopefully it's not a temporary situation and a new trend for the rest of this decade.
Mother nature: "Hold my beer"....
How is ground water recharge going? What about Lake Tulare?
And more this weekend. Bust out the hot chocolate and your favorite disaster movies.
Despite your report you are not taking into consideration the GeoEngineering going on. Those numbers fall super short over the total years of no rain. So these huge amounts of rain and snow do not compensate for the overall numbers of deficit. No matter how much rain or snow fell over the overall average it does not compensate for the long term shortfall.
Can you please do a report on Lake Mead and Lake Powell ?
One good warm rain event and the snowpack dissappear overnight so ....
I thought this channel was going to be just one of many dramatic doom and gloom channels that promote hysteria. Good Report!
Hey do you ever report on Lake Berryessa? I grew up in Napa.
Lake Berryessa I haven’t heard that name in forever I first water skied at that lake in 1958 I was five years old I remember my folks took me around the island skiing cool cool
It's around 4 feet from the top of the glory hole. I live in Winters
Google "Lake Berryessa News". You'll find a link to real time storage and water level there. I look at it often, especially this time of year.
I dont know the correct name for it but San Luis reservoir does not benefit directly from rain fall or snow, it is a storage reservoir. It has very little watershed area around it. It gets filled by pumping water our of the aquaduct system when water flows are high. The new reservoir in NorCal will work in the same capacity, when the snowpack melts and water is released from Shasta and Oroville, it will fill the new reservoir.
❤😊
Will there be a super bloom again this year?
The rain is awful but the lakes are not even full. YEAH
It’s fine over here in California
California ordered San Diego Metropolitan Water to release millions of gallons of fresh water from a lake in north San Diego county because the dam is over 100 years old. The lake is only about a 1/3 full….so instead of retro fitting this dam,they poor millions into the bullet train to nowhere
This is why I hate politicians..
Similar situation happened with the earthen dam Lafayette reservoir in Los Gatos, determined needed a seismic retrofit.
It's never over
It should be law to capture as much rain water as possible instead of just letting flow.
Awesome 👍. Probably water other planets as well 😂
What about ground water?
It’s over when California Politicians build more reservoirs and adequately capture rainwater and snowmelt.
100% agree, and anyone who doesn’t, is a bootlicker for California politicians!
Yes, reservoirs on rivers that don't exist. Freaking idiots that watch too much Fox News! Every single place that a reservoir could practically be built, has already been built! Silly child
@@raggraves hey that's a good one there Fox News bootlicker
There's enough, the heavily subsidized farmers are the problem. Basically welfare for the rich
@@KP-vj7hoEat your bugs and be happy.
California has a lot of desert and that desert is always in Drought no matter how much water arrives.
Living in the high desert, waiting on this Ill Niño thing to happen
My prediction, drought. “Since the beginning of your life, since the beginning of the Party, since the beginning of history, the drought has continued without a break, always the same drought.” George Orwell
Didn't know that Ca had over 1,300 reservoirs more than I had expected... 70% of Lake Shasta's water is from rainfall not snowpack.
California my state, the best of the best.
A beautiful place with deranged Demhole government...
What about the Southern California Mountains?
The further south you go in California, the less problem there is of drained reservoirs. I suspect that the more precious water is due to lack of access, the local water companies purchase more Colorado River water to ensure there is a supply of water if an emergency arises (like 2022 when the Colorado River almost stopped flowing). It's ironic that the furthest southern counties were willing to pay really high rates to ensure an emergency supply exists that was hardly touched. So, to answer your question... Despite severe drought conditions, the furthest southern reservoirs and lakes were mostly in good condition and didn't drop to emergency levels. Keep in mind also that there isn't that much snowpack in SoCal mountains because their elevation is nothing compared to mountain ranges further inland in neigboring states... And yes, that includes AZ and OR as well as NV and UT that feed the Colorado River.
need to update video, past 2 days its been raining non stop
So how much was released and how much was restored? Why do they not maintain 90% even with big storms coming? Are there concerns that the outflow would be too slow compared to the inflow? Why is San Luis the lowest? Is there catchment system not as efficient?
A lot of the releases allow for ground water replenishment. Water storage is not all about reservoirs
I agree and I understand that but why not store closer to full when possible. This would be on top of replenishments and various distributions have already taken place. It just seems like more could have been stored.
@@someoneanonymous5895 Calm down.....
@@will7its They are just questions that I have while watching the video in which you do not need to reply. I could have easily just said nice job, great work, or wow. How about some emojis and leave it at that...Relax, just questions. Oh and just wait until the levels are at 40% again. You would wish it started at 90% this way it would be at 50%. 🙂
San Luis has a hydro plant that releases water during high electricity demand. During low demand electric rates are cheaper and they pump canal water into the reservoir.
😮😮😮😮
The question was how they released much water?
If they need to release water from the reservoirs, because we have to much rain coming. Why do we even need to worry about how much snow pack we have?
The drought is over. Until it comes back again. Then, it'll end again, .......
Thank you Jesus 🙏🏽 all glory be to God
😮
San Luis is filled with pumps, not rainfall. It's a holding place for water going to Southern California.
Check the water levels. It's being filled to capacity and excess is being released to minimize storm flooding. This is a time when the reservoir is being filled far faster than water is pumped out.
I like the info but I find your use of the word capacity misleading. Perhaps I'm wrong but for most of us who work in the sphere of California water a reservoir's capacity means its storage limit. If a reservoir holds 100,000 acre feet when full its capacity is 100,000 a/f. Even if it is storing 60,000 a/f its capacity is still 100,000 a/f.
No, we still don't have enough, the snow coverage is not good enough yet, and the water just went out to sea mostly
GOD IS GOOD!
Question how does a person measure an acre foot. That’s a pretty deep dive
The amount of water it takes to cover 1 acre with 1 foot of water. Hard to conceptualize, I know. I forget how many gallons it equals.
I think I got what you were trying to convey - I think. But the way you use the term “capacity” (and even “average”) - I do not think it means what you think it means. Made some simple comparisons unnecessarily fuzzy.
It’s ok the BIG farma will need more water for pistachios etc and they’ll say we are in a drought by the time summer hits
god works in mysterious ways
With all the people leaving they will have plenty of water
It's the west folks. Where drought starts when the rains stop and ends when the rains return...
What the heck? Nothing about Hetch Hetchy??
You live in the desert. It does get hot and dry.