Recent heavy rains have caused California's largest reservoirs, Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, to near capacity, necessitating water releases from their spillways. As of February 1, Shasta Lake was at 90% capacity and has since dropped to 84% due to the release of millions of gallons of water. The California Department of Water Resources reports that reservoirs statewide are healthy, and the careful management of water levels is vital to prevent potential flooding, balancing immediate needs against future water supply from melting snow. Jeff Mount highlights the importance of maintaining reserve capacity for flood management.
It's always troubling for people to see water let out,' says Jeff Mount, a professor emeritus at UC Davis and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center. 'But you have to keep some space to catch floods, and then hope the melting snow in the spring fills the reservoir back to the top.'
Shasta Lake rose 22 feet in the first week of February, and Lake Oroville rose 23 feet, indicating significant water inflow due to recent heavy rains.
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