Statewide Reservoir Levels Continue to Decline
As the drought continues, California’s reservoir levels have dropped dramatically, especially in the state’s major reservoirs which currently sit at 43% of historical averages. While comparisons to the 1976 water year have been made, Department of Water Resources Chief Hydrologist Maury Roos says statewide conditions are more similar to those of the 1992 water year.
“It’s probably comparable with what it was at the end of 1992, the end of 1992 water year, which was a six year period of drought,” said Roos in an interview with Capitol Public Radio.
As of November 11, DWR figures show that major reservoir levels are as follows:
| Reservoir | % of Capacity | % of Historical Average |
| San Luis Reservior | 20% | 36% |
| New Melones | 21% | 37% |
| Trinity Lake | 23% | 35% |
| Shasta Reservoir | 24% | 40% |
| Lake Oroville | 26% | 43% |
| Folsom Lake | 30% | 60% |
| Don Pedro Reservoir | 37% | 58% |
According to DWR’s current data, Lake Oroville is currently at 915,220 acre-feet – which is only 33,200 acre-feet more than the record low-level of 882,000 acre-feet for the reservoir.
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