California’s Lake Oroville at Full Capacity Thanks to Immensely Wet Winter and Spring

Posted: June 21, 2023 2:23 pm

There is good news coming out of the state of California. According to the state’s Department of Water Resources, Lake Oroville is once again boasting water levels at full capacity. This news is a relief as the Golden State comes out of a multi-year mega drought that drained resources and forced significant water restrictions.

What the Numbers Say About Lake Oroville

As California’s second-largest reservoir, Lake Oroville was also one of the hardest hit as the state suffered through the record-breaking drought in recent years. A parade of storms that fired up last winter and continued through the spring doused the state with immense amounts of moisture over the last few months.

This relentless precipitation came in the form of rain across the coastal areas and heavy snow in the higher terrains, helping to build snowpack and replenish the state’s waterways.

While the active weather pattern created its own set of problems at times, there is no doubt that it was good news for the reservoirs that had been dealing with critically low water levels for the last several years.

Lake Oroville is now at 100% of its total capacity. In addition, the reservoir is sitting at 127% of where it typically is by the middle of June. The consistent stream of moisture over the winter and its resulting snow runoff sent 2.5 million acre-feet of water into the reservoir, bringing levels up by over 240 feet since the beginning of December.

Hydroelectric Power Plant Went Offline as Water Levels Plummeted

This is the first time that Lake Oroville has been at capacity since 2019. Located between Sacramento and Redding, the lake reached a low level of only 24% of its total capacity in 2021 during the height of the drought. The levels were so depleted that officials were forced to close a hydroelectric power plant that relied on water from the lake to operate.

The water levels were so low at some points that intake pipes were exposed. These pipes are used to transfer the water needed to power the Edward Hyatt Power Plant. The plant closure was just one example of how the lack of rain negatively impacted life in the region.

According to the California Energy Commission, the plant is the fourth-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the state. Boasting the ability to power as many as 800,000 homes, losing this capacity put a strain on the state’s energy system.

This is particularly true for a green state like California that leans on hydroelectric power for roughly 13% of its state’s electricity needs.

A surge of moisture in the early winter of 2022 provided enough water for the plant to reopen in January 2022. Looking ahead, officials with California’s State Water Project are employing a number of planned releases to make room for incoming snowmelt runoff. The agency is also planning to store water for next year.

Most boat ramps are now in operation again thanks to the increase in the water levels. This is good news for campers and other outdoor recreational enthusiasts who have been unable to use these ramps in recent years.

The surge in water has also delivered some challenges. For instance, one boat ramp parking lot is closed because of floodwaters. In addition, officials warn that there is the potential of the lake cresting over the emergency spillway on days with high winds.

What About the Other Reservoirs?

Lake Oroville is not the only reservoir in the region that has seen significant increases in water levels. The largest reservoir in California, Shasta Lake, is now measuring at 97% of its total capacity as well as 119% of its historical average.

Although California’s major reservoirs are enjoying the results of a wet winter and spring, other areas in the western U.S. are still struggling to replenish these crucial water storms. For example, the Colorado River Basin is not coming close to hitting its full capacity.

This basin brings water to approximately 40 million people in seven states in the region and to parts of northern Mexico.

Climate experts warn that the world will continue to see these cycles of extreme drought and its impacts as human-induced global warming continues at an alarming rate. While there is certainly good news for California’s water resources situation at the present moment, the next mega drought could be right around the corner.

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