The onslaught of rain across California this week has pushed up
the state’s reservoir water storage levels
even more since the weekend, according to state data, though levels for most reservoirs are still below the historical average for this time of year.
Statewide reservoir storage, which has declined significantly over the past three years thanks to drought and diminished snowpack, is now up to
84% of average
as of midnight on Jan. 10, according to the state department of water resources. Just five days ago, average storage levels were at only 78%, and
one month ago, at 68%.
While nearly all of the state’s largest reservoirs remain below their historical average for this time of year, the series of storms continue to push water levels up, even compared with just last week. Lake Shasta, which is the state’s largest reservoir by volume, rose from 35% to 42% of its total 4.5 million acre-foot capacity over the last five days — both up from 31% a month ago. The additions bring the reservoir to 70% of its historic average for this time of year.
Lake Oroville similarly jumped up from 41% five days ago to 47% as of Jan. 10, bringing it to 88% of its historic average.
And one major reservoir — Don Pedro, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Modesto — hit 100% of its historic average water storage this week, which is 69% of its total capacity of 2 million acre-feet. Five days ago, it was at 92% of its average.
While some smaller reservoirs have even surpassed their historic average after the rains this month, all are still below their total capacity.
While the precipitation is a positive, water experts stress that even a few weeks of consecutive storms aren’t enough to reverse several years of drought. While the
rains have improved drought conditions
across the state, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor update last Thursday, the entire state remains at least abnormally dry, with much of it falling into the severe or extreme drought categories — the third and fourth worst categories out of five.
Jeanine Jones, drought manager for the California Department of Water Resources, told the Chronicle last week that only sustained precipitation through the season would be able to make a meaningful improvement in the state’s water supply.
“It’s great that we’re having some storms and getting (precipitation), but we need that to continue,” she said.
Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev
