Posted on 03/19/2023 5:55:29 PM PDT by nickcarraway
As wet weather has continued to impact California, some reservoirs across the state are being managed with scheduled releases of water to prevent flooding, according to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
After 14 atmospheric rivers hit back-to-back this winter, reservoirs began filling quickly. Though most of the major reservoirs aren’t full yet, several are significantly higher than they have been historically. This is especially true in Central California at the Don Pedro, Camanche and Oroville reservoirs.
Northern California
Video shared by DWR shows a large release of water from Lake Oroville down into the Feather River at a rate of 35,000 cubic feet per second. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with downstream water operators to schedule releases in an effort to manage flood control.
The water release has caused a closure of Oro Dam Boulevard between Rusty Dusty Road and Canyon Drive because the water spray across the road reduces driver visibility. Drivers can still access the Oroville Dam and the State Recreation area by using State Route 162 and Canyon Drive, according to DWR.
(Photo courtesy of Dept. of Water Resources)
Reservoir January Level March Level
Shasta 49% of capacity 73% of capacity
Trinity 29% of capacity 35% of capacity
Sonoma 57% of capacity 75% of capacity
Oroville 54% of capacity 83% of capacity
New Bullards Bar 78% of capacity 83% of capacity
Folsom 47% of capacity 64% of capacity
Central California
San Luis Reservoir more than doubled its water levels over the past two months of wet weather. Nearly all Central California reservoirs are above 80% capacity, a significant sign of progress in the drought-ridden area.
Reservoir January Level March Level
Camanche 73% of capacity 81% of capacity
New Melones 36% of capacity 54% of capacity
Don Pedro 72% of capacity 88% of capacity
McClure 50% of capacity 82% of capacity
Pine Flat 44% of capacity 78% of capacity
Millerton 82% of capacity 80% of capacity
San Luis 43% of capacity 91% of capacity
Southern California
Reservoirs across SoCal aren’t gaining water as quickly as their North and Central California counterparts, but Cachuma Reservoir is nearly at capacity. Cachuma grew quickly January when the atmospheric rivers that hit California caused the water levels to rise by 36 feet in a 24-hour period.
Reservoir January Level March Level
Cachuma 84% of capacity 96% of capacity
Casitas 37% of capacity 56% of capacity
Castaic 54% of capacity 73% of capacity
Diamond Valley 61% of capacity 60% of capacity
With more wet weather forecasted for California in the coming weeks, reservoir levels could continue to rise. The state continues to be impacted by mudslides and downed trees, but the moisture is till a welcome sign of relief for a state so heavily hit by drought.
They are pretty much full.
Newsom will let it run out to the ocean soon.
There is 50 ft of snow waiting to melt, that will go into some of them
We need water in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Seem to have benefitted somewhat from these atmospheric rivers.
These reservoirs will have to dump 75% of their capacity into the Pacific by June to save the River Smelt or some other critter.
Wouldn’t the atmospheric rivers put out the bomb cyclones?
Most ocean fish can’t survive in fresh water. It’s poison to them.
Has California gotten a permit to release all this poison into the World’s Oceans?
but "experts" always see the negative....
I hate that new term: atmospheric rivers
They are just storms.
It is a amazing construction repair that was done at Oroville Dam after the Feb 2017 failure seen below.
Damage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxNM4DGBRMU
Repairing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekUROM87vTA
The terminology of atmospheric Rivers isn’t located in the official National Weather Service glossary.
Check for yourself:
https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/
That’s why they aren’t quite full.
When the snowmelt really hits is when most will fill up, and they will have to open the sluices.
We may see the dikes and flood control measures in the Sacramento Delta get a workout.
If they aren’t full now, 50 feet of snow melt will finish the job.
A good friend of mine retired from the company that did the repairs. He said the repairs cost $1 billion!
14 and counting…
On another note, no one seems to remember Arkansas’ coach used to be the Warriors’ coach.
I think there is a good chance we will have more.
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