Shasta Dam sees biggest release in decades as reservoir nears capacity

KCRA via San Francisco Chronicle ^ | February 14th, 2017 | Sarah Heise, KCRA

[Mariner]

Water releases from Shasta Lake are at the highest in 20 years as the lake nears full capacity Monday.

The lake stood at 96 percent of capacity and 137 percent of the historical average, as of midnight Monday, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Water officials are releasing 70,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Shasta Dam as the lake stands just 5 feet from the top of the reservoir, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office said.

"This is higher than it should be for this point in time," the sheriff's office said. "The release is necessary for space to allow future storms and to prevent uncontrolled release and flooding."

The reservoir holds 4,552,000 acre-feet and stood at nearly 4,400,000 acre-feet in Shasta Lake, as of early Monday morning, DWR records show.

[Mariner]

This is 100 miles upstream from where the Feather River (Oroville dam) joins the Sacramento River. They will likely be at 200,000cfs by Monday.

All of this water has to pass through Sacramento and the river there is but 2ft below flood stage, with levees failing in the delta already.

[FourtySeven]

Is more rain expected?

[Mariner]

https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:96019.1.99999

Shasta weather forecast. Add 50-100% for the mountains above.

The ground is already fully saturated and the rain will cause snow melt. There is 30ft of snow in the mountains.

[pepsionice]

Perhaps the more appropriate question to ask here....what exactly is the weather for the next two weeks? More snow or rain?

[MUDDOG]

Crash on the levee mama, water’s gonna overflow.

[Mariner]

At least 5 inches of rain in 5 days over Shasta.

[az_gila]

Johnny Cash and mama...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fpbCLNyPUA

[pgkdan]

Is more rain expected?

Yes. Lots more starting tomorrow or Thursday. The folks downstream need our prayers.

[smokingfrog]

With a total capacity of 4,552,000 acre-feet, an elevation of 1,067 feet, 365 miles of mostly mountainous shoreline, and a maximum depth of 517 feet, Lake Shasta is California’s largest reservoir and the eighth largest in the United States. Lake Shasta is impounded by the Shasta Dam, a concrete arch gravity dam across the Sacramento River that stands 602 feet tall, making it the eighth tallest dam in the United States. Operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, the reservoir provides water storage, flood control, hydroelectricity, and protection against the intrusion of salt water.

[SparkyBass]

I’ve camped there when it was less than 20% full.
At least the rains are washing the last remaining poison from when the EPA killed much of the tributaries. That lake is so huge, the last 5 feet to the top may never happen. Beautiful area.

[MUDDOG]

Great song!

They got more experience with floods in Johnny Cash country.

[ScottinVA]

My family is pretty much near that path. My mother and brother both live just 35 miles south of the Shasta Dam, near where the Sacramento flows through the town of Red Bluff.

[Mariner]

The mountain drainage exceeds 1000 square miles.

They will have to significantly increase outflow to keep water from cresting over the top in this next storm.

[tomkat]

oy vey .. Murphy's having a busy week

[pgkdan]

I hope they’re in a safe place. I’ll keep them in my prayers. I have family in the area too. All Trump voters, BTW.

[ifinnegan]

It’s great.

Idiots thought the drought would last forever.

Always happens like this.

[Mariner]

Lake Berryessa is full and all additional water will join the rush in the Sacramento river.

http://lakeberryessanews.com/

[Mariner]

The American River is adding another 60,000cfs where it joins IN Sacramento. Likely to also be increased.

https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/foldop.pdf

[SparkyBass]

Everything does ultimately end up in the Sacramento (I’ve been stuck in Chico for a week - while in college - when the levee at Hamilton City broke, and that storm was nothing compared to what’s going on now).

One break in one dam or levee and this will get ugly fast.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I suppose it’s too late for these words of wisdom?

“Always drink/live upstream from the herd.”

Prayers up for smart management of this pending disaster.

So, what happens when all the water goes downstream? Will CA be back in a drought? There are no plans or places or protocols in place to deal with something like this? No additional reservoirs, lakes, ponds, etc. to hold/slow/trap this water as it moves downstream?

Oh, that’s right. In CA - Mother Government OWNS all the water. No rain barrels or flushing for YOU! ;)