[Mick]

Tulare Lake is back. Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi (as measured by surface area) and the second largest freshwater lake in the United States, farmers used irrigation and canals to divert water from the lake starting in the latter half of the 19th century. The lake was almost gone by the early 20th century. During particularly wet periods (1942, 1969, 1983, 1997, and 2023/2024), it reappears. In 1983, it took two years to dry out. The wet weather of early 2023 resulted in 114,000 hectares reappearing.

At its peak, it can hold 6.5 million acre feet of water, about 44% more than our largest reservoir, Lake Shasta. It was almost the size of Lake Tahoe last spring.

Tulare Lake Disappeared 130 Years Ago — Now it’s Back (northeastern.edu)

Areas around the lake had subsided five to six feet thanks to groundwater pumping:
Their land is sinking. But Tulare Lake farm barons defy calls to cut groundwater pumping - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

[Mick]

Tulare Lake is back. Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi (as measured by surface area) and the second largest freshwater lake in the United States, farmers used irrigation and canals to divert water from the lake starting in the latter half of the 19th century. The lake was almost gone by the early 20th century. During particularly wet periods (1942, 1969, 1983, 1997, and 2023/2024), it reappears. In 1983, it took two years to dry out. The wet weather of early 2023 resulted in 114,000 hectares reappearing.

At its peak, it can hold 6.5 million acre feet of water, about 44% more than our largest reservoir, Lake Shasta. It was almost the size of Lake Tahoe last spring.

Tulare Lake Disappeared 130 Years Ago — Now it’s Back (northeastern.edu)

Areas around the lake had subsided five to six feet thanks to groundwater pumping:
Their land is sinking. But Tulare Lake farm barons defy calls to cut groundwater pumping - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

[M T]

Regarding release of water before the storm, here's a nice video. (Oroville dam)

Regarding Tulare Lake, here's a Central Valley take on it.
Kings County is about 890,000 acres.  During (last year's?) flood, the lake was 120,000 acres, about 13% of the county.  Apparently it was down to 4500 acres before this week.

[M T]

Regarding release of water before the storm, here's a nice video. (Oroville dam)

Regarding Tulare Lake, here's a Central Valley take on it.
Kings County is about 890,000 acres.  During (last year's?) flood, the lake was 120,000 acres, about 13% of the county.  Apparently it was down to 4500 acres before this week.

[Mick]

7.7 trillion gallons dumped on CA so far. 3 trillion more gallons to go...

Bomb Cyclone To Dump More Water Than in Lake Mead on California

[Mick]

7.7 trillion gallons dumped on CA so far. 3 trillion more gallons to go...

Bomb Cyclone To Dump More Water Than in Lake Mead on California

[M T]

I’m not sure what happened, but Mick listed Lake Trinity at 65%&100% yesterday but today it is listed at 50%&85%.  That’s a difference of 200,000 acre-feet

[M T]

I’m not sure what happened, but Mick listed Lake Trinity at 65%&100% yesterday but today it is listed at 50%&85%.  That’s a difference of 200,000 acre-feet

[Mick]

I’m not sure what happened, but Mick listed Lake Trinity at 65%&100% yesterday but today it is listed at 50%&85%.  That’s a difference of 200,000 acre-feet

I know exactly what happened. I took my figures from the daily statewide reservoir report. Then I copied and pasted the link to the daily status report, but if you use that link, it takes you to a December 13, 2023 dated report rather than the most recent daily report. Seems somewhat random.

Here's the link, cut and pasted again: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/java...name=RESSW

That should work. The other way to get to the proper report is to go to the basic site: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reservoir.html and the top link on the right column is "Daily Statewide Reservoir Report."

[Mick]

I’m not sure what happened, but Mick listed Lake Trinity at 65%&100% yesterday but today it is listed at 50%&85%.  That’s a difference of 200,000 acre-feet

I know exactly what happened. I took my figures from the daily statewide reservoir report. Then I copied and pasted the link to the daily status report, but if you use that link, it takes you to a December 13, 2023 dated report rather than the most recent daily report. Seems somewhat random.

Here's the link, cut and pasted again: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/java...name=RESSW

That should work. The other way to get to the proper report is to go to the basic site: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reservoir.html and the top link on the right column is "Daily Statewide Reservoir Report."

[Mick]

As of Feb. 15, California's snowpack stood at 77% of average for this time of year. Reservoirs, happily, are much higher. Groundwater still remains a challenge.

Where California's Snowpack And Reservoirs Stand As More Storms Lash The State

[Mick]

As of Feb. 15, California's snowpack stood at 77% of average for this time of year. Reservoirs, happily, are much higher. Groundwater still remains a challenge.

Where California's Snowpack And Reservoirs Stand As More Storms Lash The State

[Mick]

Interesting interview with Jerry Brown...not the ex-governor, but the water engineer...has been selected to oversee the building of Sites Reservoir, the 8th largest dam in California, and the largest since 1979 (New Melones). Groundbreaking in 2026. It will provide water to 24 million people and 500,000 acres of Central Valley farmlands. $4.5 billion.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/12/17/w...ent=manual

https://www.owp.csus.edu/water-seminars/...roject.php

Took 60 years to get here, but Sites Reservoir will open in 2032:

Long planned Sites Valley reservoir moves toward construction

It won't be as large as Shasta, but it will be 13 miles long.

[Mick]

Interesting interview with Jerry Brown...not the ex-governor, but the water engineer...has been selected to oversee the building of Sites Reservoir, the 8th largest dam in California, and the largest since 1979 (New Melones). Groundbreaking in 2026. It will provide water to 24 million people and 500,000 acres of Central Valley farmlands. $4.5 billion.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/12/17/w...ent=manual

https://www.owp.csus.edu/water-seminars/...roject.php

Took 60 years to get here, but Sites Reservoir will open in 2032:

Long planned Sites Valley reservoir moves toward construction

It won't be as large as Shasta, but it will be 13 miles long.

[M T]

As of Friday morning (before the multi-feet snowfall this weekend), the state's snow pack, by water-equivalent, was at 84% of normal to date.  It went from 81% to 84% from Thursday to Friday morning.   I expect that Monday's reading will show > 90%.

Statewide, reservoir water storage is 118% of normal for this date.

I hope we can stop hand-wringing over this for a while.

But, I guess the news will next worry about flooding during snow melt season. (Or rafters/kayakers will be looking for forecast).
See the forecast of flows and peak dates.

[M T]

As of Friday morning (before the multi-feet snowfall this weekend), the state's snow pack, by water-equivalent, was at 84% of normal to date.  It went from 81% to 84% from Thursday to Friday morning.   I expect that Monday's reading will show > 90%.

Statewide, reservoir water storage is 118% of normal for this date.

I hope we can stop hand-wringing over this for a while.

But, I guess the news will next worry about flooding during snow melt season. (Or rafters/kayakers will be looking for forecast).
See the forecast of flows and peak dates.

[Nan3cy]

I worried all last winter what would happen if there was a hot spell in the spring with a quick thaw — am very glad I worried needlessly. Can we get lucky two years in a row?

[Nan3cy]

I worried all last winter what would happen if there was a hot spell in the spring with a quick thaw — am very glad I worried needlessly. Can we get lucky two years in a row?

[82lsju]

[82lsju]

[Mick]

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/javareports?name=RESSW

Reservoir capacity updated for March 4, 2024 (using threepointer's scale). Listed with % of Average to date:

Large (1 MM+ AF):
Oroville, 84% / 132%
Shasta, 82% / 113%
Pine Flat, 73% / 155%
San Luis, 69% / 85%
New Melones, 83% / 138%
Trinity, 73% / 107%
Don Pedro, 82% / 112%
Lake McClure, 65% / 129%
Berryessa, 94% / 114%
Almanor, 74% / 115%

Medium (300k - 999k AF, where available)
Folsom, 65% / 127% 
New Bullards, 84% / 118%
Diamond Valley, 93% / 126%
Indian Valley, 77% / 135%
Millerton Lake, 67% / 104%
Isabella, 42% / 139%
Lake San Antonio, 77% / 141%
Lake Tahoe/Tahoe City, 82% / 212%
Nacimiento, 90% / 162%
Camanche, 81% / 131%
New Hogan, 66% / 137%
Castaic, 79% / 98%
Clear Lake, 110% / 139%

SF Bay Reservoirs (and of local interest, where available)
Hetch Hetchy, 90% / 150%
Calaveras, 95% / 179%
Del Valle, 45% / 99%
U San Leandro, 99% / 117%
San Pablo, 72% / 100%
Chabot, 95% / 108%
Briones, 86% / 105%
Lexington Reservoir, 83% / 131%
San Antonio Reservoir, 101% / 116%
Crystal Springs Reservoir, 65% / 87%

Not surprisingly, most have increased, save for a few which have released water.

[Mick]

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/javareports?name=RESSW

Reservoir capacity updated for March 4, 2024 (using threepointer's scale). Listed with % of Average to date:

Large (1 MM+ AF):
Oroville, 84% / 132%
Shasta, 82% / 113%
Pine Flat, 73% / 155%
San Luis, 69% / 85%
New Melones, 83% / 138%
Trinity, 73% / 107%
Don Pedro, 82% / 112%
Lake McClure, 65% / 129%
Berryessa, 94% / 114%
Almanor, 74% / 115%

Medium (300k - 999k AF, where available)
Folsom, 65% / 127% 
New Bullards, 84% / 118%
Diamond Valley, 93% / 126%
Indian Valley, 77% / 135%
Millerton Lake, 67% / 104%
Isabella, 42% / 139%
Lake San Antonio, 77% / 141%
Lake Tahoe/Tahoe City, 82% / 212%
Nacimiento, 90% / 162%
Camanche, 81% / 131%
New Hogan, 66% / 137%
Castaic, 79% / 98%
Clear Lake, 110% / 139%

SF Bay Reservoirs (and of local interest, where available)
Hetch Hetchy, 90% / 150%
Calaveras, 95% / 179%
Del Valle, 45% / 99%
U San Leandro, 99% / 117%
San Pablo, 72% / 100%
Chabot, 95% / 108%
Briones, 86% / 105%
Lexington Reservoir, 83% / 131%
San Antonio Reservoir, 101% / 116%
Crystal Springs Reservoir, 65% / 87%

Not surprisingly, most have increased, save for a few which have released water.

[82 Card]

The largest dam removal in US history is happening just north of the California border as four of the six dams on the Klamath River in southern Oregon and Northern California are scheduled to be eliminated (three of them are hydroelectric dams). It will save salmon, steelhead, and lamprey among other species (it was once the third-largest salmon producer on the West Coast, but are down to a fraction of their production.

Dam removal on the Elwha River in Washington resulted in a quick recovery. Advocates are eyeing four dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington as the next big dam removal.

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/122449440...rning_brew

According to an article in SFGate, the attempt to restock the river following dam removal ran into some trouble last week: Hundreds of thousands of salmon released in Northern California river die in 'large mortality' event

[82 Card]

The largest dam removal in US history is happening just north of the California border as four of the six dams on the Klamath River in southern Oregon and Northern California are scheduled to be eliminated (three of them are hydroelectric dams). It will save salmon, steelhead, and lamprey among other species (it was once the third-largest salmon producer on the West Coast, but are down to a fraction of their production.

Dam removal on the Elwha River in Washington resulted in a quick recovery. Advocates are eyeing four dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington as the next big dam removal.

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/122449440...rning_brew

According to an article in SFGate, the attempt to restock the river following dam removal ran into some trouble last week: Hundreds of thousands of salmon released in Northern California river die in 'large mortality' event

[rogpodge]

The salmon restoration (the main point of dam removal) has been a disaster. Own goal after own goal. Too much sediment in the water killed migrating wild fish. Then they killed the hatchery fish by forcing them through a tunnel in a high water flow year. They could have imprinted the fish upstream, transported them past the tunnel and saved themselves the trouble. Just shows the general incompetence of state government.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/report-mass...h-released

But that's okay. No one is ever held responsible because everything is an unforeseeable accident.

[rogpodge]

The salmon restoration (the main point of dam removal) has been a disaster. Own goal after own goal. Too much sediment in the water killed migrating wild fish. Then they killed the hatchery fish by forcing them through a tunnel in a high water flow year. They could have imprinted the fish upstream, transported them past the tunnel and saved themselves the trouble. Just shows the general incompetence of state government.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/report-mass...h-released

But that's okay. No one is ever held responsible because everything is an unforeseeable accident.

[M T]

Just to be clear, the UC Davis report of the August 2022 incident is unrelated to the Klamath Dam incident.

Drifting threads….

[M T]

Just to be clear, the UC Davis report of the August 2022 incident is unrelated to the Klamath Dam incident.

Drifting threads….

[Mick]

The salmon restoration (the main point of dam removal) has been a disaster. Own goal after own goal. Too much sediment in the water killed migrating wild fish. Then they killed the hatchery fish by forcing them through a tunnel in a high water flow year. They could have imprinted the fish upstream, transported them past the tunnel and saved themselves the trouble. Just shows the general incompetence of state government.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/report-mass...h-released

But that's okay. No one is ever held responsible because everything is an unforeseeable accident.

I had an event manager like that once. After an event disaster in which everything went wrong, she came back to my office and her first comment was "the good news is that it wasn't my fault." Shshe e described a cascade of negatives, all of which could and should have been prevented...

Accuweather says no drought conditions in California through all of 2025, at least.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-f...ay/1627328

[Mick]

The salmon restoration (the main point of dam removal) has been a disaster. Own goal after own goal. Too much sediment in the water killed migrating wild fish. Then they killed the hatchery fish by forcing them through a tunnel in a high water flow year. They could have imprinted the fish upstream, transported them past the tunnel and saved themselves the trouble. Just shows the general incompetence of state government.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/report-mass...h-released

But that's okay. No one is ever held responsible because everything is an unforeseeable accident.

I had an event manager like that once. After an event disaster in which everything went wrong, she came back to my office and her first comment was "the good news is that it wasn't my fault." Shshe e described a cascade of negatives, all of which could and should have been prevented...

Accuweather says no drought conditions in California through all of 2025, at least.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-f...ay/1627328

[bbm233]

Question for those who know more about these levels: I was at both Tahoe and Shasta in the past week and both are listed at around 80% of capacity, yet my eye would tell me that Tahoe is at it's normal level and Shasta looks like it is at 80%. My question is really about Tahoe - it always seems to be at pretty much the same level regardless of the time of year I visit and furthermore it is a natural lake without any ability for us humans to raise or lower the level (AFAIK), so how can it be at only 80% of average capacity? Is that measurement really about the Truckee River volume?

[bbm233]

Question for those who know more about these levels: I was at both Tahoe and Shasta in the past week and both are listed at around 80% of capacity, yet my eye would tell me that Tahoe is at it's normal level and Shasta looks like it is at 80%. My question is really about Tahoe - it always seems to be at pretty much the same level regardless of the time of year I visit and furthermore it is a natural lake without any ability for us humans to raise or lower the level (AFAIK), so how can it be at only 80% of average capacity? Is that measurement really about the Truckee River volume?

[bbm233]

Question for those who know more about these levels: I was at both Tahoe and Shasta in the past week and both are listed at around 80% of capacity, yet my eye would tell me that Tahoe is at it's normal level and Shasta looks like it is at 80%. My question is really about Tahoe - it always seems to be at pretty much the same level regardless of the time of year I visit and furthermore it is a natural lake without any ability for us humans to raise or lower the level (AFAIK), so how can it be at only 80% of average capacity? Is that measurement really about the Truckee River volume?

A little Googling and I found the answer myself. Turns out there is a dam on the Truckee River that can increase Tahoe's depth by an additional 6 feet from its natural level. That 6 feet times the lake's surface area must be what is being measured. So the current water level is about 14 inches from the top of the dam.

[bbm233]

Question for those who know more about these levels: I was at both Tahoe and Shasta in the past week and both are listed at around 80% of capacity, yet my eye would tell me that Tahoe is at it's normal level and Shasta looks like it is at 80%. My question is really about Tahoe - it always seems to be at pretty much the same level regardless of the time of year I visit and furthermore it is a natural lake without any ability for us humans to raise or lower the level (AFAIK), so how can it be at only 80% of average capacity? Is that measurement really about the Truckee River volume?

A little Googling and I found the answer myself. Turns out there is a dam on the Truckee River that can increase Tahoe's depth by an additional 6 feet from its natural level. That 6 feet times the lake's surface area must be what is being measured. So the current water level is about 14 inches from the top of the dam.

[Mick]

Lexington is being drained for repairs, sealing, debris removal, outlet pipe cleaning, eliminating invasive plants and general cleanup. Build in the 1930s, it's the first time it's been drained since 2005. It's the smallest reservoir in the district, 463 acre/feet. The water released is being used to recharge percolation ponds and they've left a small area of water for fish.

Vasona Reservoir in Los Gatos drained for repairs

[Mick]

Lexington is being drained for repairs, sealing, debris removal, outlet pipe cleaning, eliminating invasive plants and general cleanup. Build in the 1930s, it's the first time it's been drained since 2005. It's the smallest reservoir in the district, 463 acre/feet. The water released is being used to recharge percolation ponds and they've left a small area of water for fish.

Vasona Reservoir in Los Gatos drained for repairs

[Leftcoast]

I think you mean Vasona (as in your linked article) rather than the larger Lexington which is several miles upstream of Vasona.

Last time they drained Lexington in 2009 I took the family there so they could see the remainder of the old towns (Alma and Lexington) that were flooded by the reservoir.  Many of the concrete foundations were visible at the time giving you brief view of the area in the mid 1800s.  I don't think we'll see anything uncovered by a drained Lake Vasona.

[Leftcoast]

I think you mean Vasona (as in your linked article) rather than the larger Lexington which is several miles upstream of Vasona.

Last time they drained Lexington in 2009 I took the family there so they could see the remainder of the old towns (Alma and Lexington) that were flooded by the reservoir.  Many of the concrete foundations were visible at the time giving you brief view of the area in the mid 1800s.  I don't think we'll see anything uncovered by a drained Lake Vasona.

[Mick]

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/javareports?name=RESSW

Reservoir capacity updated for April 3, 2024 (using threepointer's scale). Listed with % of Average to date:

Large (1 MM+ AF):
Oroville, 88% / 124%
Shasta, 93% / 117%
Pine Flat, 80% / 151%
San Luis, 73% / 84%
New Melones, 84% / 135%
Trinity, 80% / 109%
Don Pedro, 83% / 111%
Lake McClure, 69% / 128%
Berryessa, 97% / 114%
Almanor, 74% / 109%

Medium (300k - 999k AF, where available)
Folsom, 73% / 115% 
New Bullards, 87% / 113%
Diamond Valley, 90% / 120%
Indian Valley, 86% / 141%
Millerton Lake, 81% / 115%
Isabella, 47% / 140%
Lake San Antonio, 81% / 138%
Lake Tahoe/Tahoe City, 86% / 209%
Nacimiento, 92% / 148%
Camanche, 83% / 131%
New Hogan, 71% / 132%
Castaic, 79% / 94%
Clear Lake, 109% / 129%

SF Bay Reservoirs (and of local interest, where available)
Hetch Hetchy, 81% / 141%
Calaveras, 93% / 169%
Del Valle, 50% / 103%
U San Leandro, 97% / 109%
San Pablo, 72% / 97%
Chabot, 93% / 104%
Briones, 86% / 103%
Lexington Reservoir, 98% / 141%
San Antonio Reservoir, 103% / 115%
Crystal Springs Reservoir, 66% / 86%

Reservoirs have really recovered.  The capacity most of the large reservoirs have increased or are unchanged (Don Pedro, Almanor, McClure) over the last month. Same phenomenon with the mid-sized reservoirs (300k to 1mm acre feet). A few are down (Diamond Valley, Castaic, Clear Lake) and the rest are up. Not surprisingly, it's more mixed on the local SFBA level, where reservoirs filled quickly. Hetch Hetchy, Calaveras, Chabot, San Leandro are down, and only Del Valle and Lexington have markedly increased.

[Mick]

https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/javareports?name=RESSW

Reservoir capacity updated for April 3, 2024 (using threepointer's scale). Listed with % of Average to date:

Large (1 MM+ AF):
Oroville, 88% / 124%
Shasta, 93% / 117%
Pine Flat, 80% / 151%
San Luis, 73% / 84%
New Melones, 84% / 135%
Trinity, 80% / 109%
Don Pedro, 83% / 111%
Lake McClure, 69% / 128%
Berryessa, 97% / 114%
Almanor, 74% / 109%

Medium (300k - 999k AF, where available)
Folsom, 73% / 115% 
New Bullards, 87% / 113%
Diamond Valley, 90% / 120%
Indian Valley, 86% / 141%
Millerton Lake, 81% / 115%
Isabella, 47% / 140%
Lake San Antonio, 81% / 138%
Lake Tahoe/Tahoe City, 86% / 209%
Nacimiento, 92% / 148%
Camanche, 83% / 131%
New Hogan, 71% / 132%
Castaic, 79% / 94%
Clear Lake, 109% / 129%

SF Bay Reservoirs (and of local interest, where available)
Hetch Hetchy, 81% / 141%
Calaveras, 93% / 169%
Del Valle, 50% / 103%
U San Leandro, 97% / 109%
San Pablo, 72% / 97%
Chabot, 93% / 104%
Briones, 86% / 103%
Lexington Reservoir, 98% / 141%
San Antonio Reservoir, 103% / 115%
Crystal Springs Reservoir, 66% / 86%

Reservoirs have really recovered.  The capacity most of the large reservoirs have increased or are unchanged (Don Pedro, Almanor, McClure) over the last month. Same phenomenon with the mid-sized reservoirs (300k to 1mm acre feet). A few are down (Diamond Valley, Castaic, Clear Lake) and the rest are up. Not surprisingly, it's more mixed on the local SFBA level, where reservoirs filled quickly. Hetch Hetchy, Calaveras, Chabot, San Leandro are down, and only Del Valle and Lexington have markedly increased.