How much water is in Lake Shasta?
Water levels stood more than 100 feet below normal. Now, after a rain-soaked March, Shasta Lake holds 109 percent of its long-term average supply for this time of year. As of March 29, the 21-mile long reservoir held 4.004 million acre-feet of water, well above the historical average of 3.668 million acre-feet (maf).
How full is Lake Shasta right now?
Shasta Lake is the largest reservoir in the state. On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said the lake is currently only filled to about 35% capacity. The drought conditions have continued to worsen.
What is the water temperature of Lake Shasta?
Summer days are very warm and sunny with high temperatures averaging nearly 100 degrees. Shasta Lake is primarily fed by rainfall, not snowmelt, making for very comfortable water temperatures – a heavenly 78-degree average in the summer months.
How low is Shasta Lake?
The lake as of today is 123′ below the top. The view from the homes is different currently from when it is full. It is now a mixture of lake and dry lake bed but should improve every day slightly through May. Retreat 3 and Retreat 4 have the best view but Retreat 1, 2, and 5 can all see the lake.
What is the water in Lake Shasta used for?
Water is used for irrigation, municipal and industrial needs, salinity control for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and to meet environmental needs. Water released to the river is sent through the Shasta Powerplant, which produces hydroelectric power for the 15-state western power grid.
Where did all the water go from Lake Shasta?
Historically, essentially all outflow from Shasta Dam travels through northern California to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta southwest of Sacramento. The total drainage area of the Sacramento River at the Delta is about 26,300 square miles.
Why are they letting water out of Shasta Lake?
The lake is actually a bit higher in water levels this summer than it was last summer because the dam is letting out 25% of the water supply to help keep a steady flow moving into the lake.
Where does the power from Shasta Dam go?
Shasta Powerplant is located at the base of the dam and helps managers maximize the benefit of water stored in Shasta Reservoir. Water released to meet downstream commitments pass through the generators causing them to spin, generating clean hydroelectric power for distribution to the western U.S. power grid.
When was the last time Shasta Lake was full?
When full, its 365 mile shoreline exceeds that of San Francisco Bay. Shasta is the second largest and tallest concrete dam in the United States. It was constructed between 1935 and 1945, and the lake was filled in 1948.
What would happen if the Shasta Dam broke?
The letter says the Office of Water Safety at Sacramento State University estimates that if water overtops the dam, the structure "would be destroyed for its entire height and nearly its entire width in a period of 6 minutes."
Will Lake Shasta fill up?
But there is a bright side: Lake Shasta can fill up after just one good year of rainfall.
Will Lake Shasta dry up?
OVERALL LAKE The current lake level is 140′ feet down. This is 35 feet higher than last year at this time. As outlined below, the lake is not dropping as fast in 2022 and will end up about 40′ higher than last year. Conditions are much better than 2021.
How deep is Shasta Lake full?
517 feetThe maximum depth is 517 feet (158 m). The lake has four major arms, each created by an approaching river: the Sacramento River, the McCloud River, Squaw Creek, and the Pit River. The Sacramento River's source is the Klamath Mountains.
What dam produces the most electricity in the US?
the Grand Coulee DamWashington has the most conventional hydroelectric generating capacity of any state and is the site of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest U.S. hydropower facility and the largest U.S. power plant in electric generation capacity.
What is California's largest reservoir?
Shasta LakeMeanwhile, Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, was at 40% capacity last month – after the state endured its driest start to a year since the late 19th century.
How deep is Shasta Lake at the dam?
522.5 ftShasta DamInactive capacity116,000 acre⋅ft (143 GL)Catchment area6,665 sq mi (17,260 km2)Surface area29,740 acres (12,040 ha)Maximum water depth522.5 ft (159.3 m)30 more rows
Where does the California Aqueduct water go?
The California Aqueduct, a critical part of the State Water Project, carries water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Deltato the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
Where does water from western Colorado end up?
Colorado River, major river of North America, rising in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, U.S., and flowing generally west and south for 1,450 miles (2,330 kilometres) into the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico.
Where does most California water go?
The Delta is where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meet, east of San Francisco Bay. It is the hub of California's water supply and conveyance system.
Where does the State Water Project go to?
The State Water Project diverts water from the Feather River to the Central Valley, South Bay Area and Southern California. Its key feature is the 444-mile long California Aqueduct that can be viewed from Interstate 5.
How deep is Shasta Lake?
The maximum depth is 517 feet (158 m).
What is Shasta Lake?
Shasta Lake is a key facility of the Central Valley Project and provides flood control for the Sacramento Valley downstream of the dam. Water outflow generates power through the Shasta Powerplant and is subsequently used for irrigation and municipal purposes.
How many slips are there in Shasta Lake?
Bridge Bay Marina is the largest marina on Shasta lake with over 700 slips. It has a restaurant, bar, and lodging, as well as retail and other facilities.
Where is the Shasta Marina Resort?
Shasta Marina Resort is located at the center of the Sacramento Arm of Shasta Lake in the O'Brien Inlet of Lakehead, CA. Packer's Bay Marina is located at the center of the lake, just north of Bridge Bay Marina. Antler's Marina is Shasta's northernmost marina. Silverthorn Marina is located on the east part of the lake and offers large houseboats ...
What is the climate of Shasta Lake?
Shasta Lake has a hot-summer mediterranean climate ( Csa) typical of the interior of Northern California with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, along with great diurnal temperature variation.
Where is Lake Shasta located?
Shasta Lake, also popularly known as Lake Shasta, is a reservoir in Shasta County, California, United States. It began to store water in 1944 due to the impounding of the Sacramento River by Shasta Dam, the ninth tallest dam in the United States.
Where is Boardstock in California?
Shasta Lake hosted the first "Boardstock" event in 1996, which continued there annually through 1999, after which the annual event moved to Clear Lake, California, 170 miles southwest of Shasta Lake. Boardstock drew many pro wakeboard riders from around the world, with an average attendance of 15,000 people.
How tall is the Shasta Dam?
Shasta Dam is a curved, gravity-type, concrete structure 487 feet high above the streambed with a total height above the foundation of 602 feet. The maximum seasonal flood control storage space in Shasta Reservoir is 1.3 million acre-feet. Shasta Dam has a crest width of 30 feet and a length of about 3,500 feet. The Shasta Power Plant consists of five main generating units with a current capacity of 625 megawatts and two station service units with a current capacity of 5 megawatts. The capacity of the five main generating units, when upgrades are completed in 2007, will be 710 megawatts.
How many megawatts does Shasta Dam have?
Shasta Dam has a crest width of 30 feet and a length of about 3,500 feet. The Shasta Power Plant consists of five main generating units with a current capacity of 625 megawatts and two station service units with a current capacity of 5 megawatts.
Where does the Shasta Dam drain?
Historically, essentially all outflow from Shasta Dam travels through northern California to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta southwest of Sacramento. The total drainage area of the Sacramento River at the Delta is about 26,300 square miles.
Where is the largest man made lake in California?
Shasta Reservoir is California’s largest man-made lake with a gross pool storage capacity of 4,552,000 acre-feet. Shasta Dam and Reservoir are located on the upper Sacramento River in northern California about 9 miles northwest of the City of Redding. The entire reservoir is within Shasta County.
When was the Shasta Dam built?
S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as an integral element of the Central Valley Project (CVP) from 1938 to 1945 for six purposes.
Did you know?
The lake itself is created by Shasta Dam for long term water storage, flood control,   hydroelectricity.
What is the largest man made reservoir in California?
Lake Shasta is the largest man-made reservoir in California with 365 Miles of shoreline (which is bigger than the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay) The construction of Shasta Dam impounded three major north state rivers: The Pit, McCloud, and Sacramento, which are now known as the arms of the lake. Swimming.
Is Shasta Caverns open year round?
Shasta Caverns are privately owned and tours are offered year-round. Self guided nature trails explore the natural and human history of Shasta Lake (The Hirz Bay Nature Trail located in the Hirz Bay Campground, and the Samwel Cave Trail located one mile south of the McCloud Bridge Campground)
Overview
Shasta Lake, also popularly known as Lake Shasta, is a reservoir in Shasta County, California, United States. It began to store water in 1944 due to the impounding of the Sacramento River by Shasta Dam, the ninth tallest dam in the United States.
Shasta Lake is a key facility of the Central Valley Project and provides flood con…
Geography
With a capacity of 4,552,000 acre⋅ft (5.615 km ) at full pool, the lake has an elevation of 1,067 ft (325 m), and a surface area of 30,000 acres (12,000 ha), making it the state's largest reservoir, and its third-largest body of water after Lake Tahoe and the Salton Sea.
Ten miles (16 km) north of the city of Redding, with the town of Lakehead on its northern shore, Shasta Lake is popular for boating, water skiing, camping, house boating and fishing. Formed by …
History
Shasta Dam was constructed between 1935 and 1945 across the Sacramento River, and Shasta Lake was formed in 1948. The Pit River, McCloud River, and several smaller tributaries had their lower courses and confluences with the Sacramento River submerged by the reservoir. Also beneath the lake is the submerged town of Kennett and many village sites of the Wintun people together with their traditional fishing, hunting, and gathering locations. Parts of the defunct tunne…
Marinas
There are a number of marinas on Shasta Lake offering a variety of services, including houseboat rentals.
• Bridge Bay Marina is the largest marina on Shasta lake with over 700 slips. It has a restaurant, bar, and lodging, as well as retail and other facilities. Visitors to Bridge Bay may rent one of 100 houseboats, as well as ski boats, fishing boats, patio boats, and personal water craft such as sta…
Gallery
• Lake Shasta from I-5
• Low waters on Lake Shasta
• Lake from the shoreline
• Deer swimming in Lake Shasta
See also
• Shasta Dam - creates Shasta Lake by impounding the Sacramento River
• Shasta Unit — of the Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area.
• List of dams and reservoirs in California
• List of largest reservoirs of California
External links
• Current Conditions, Shasta Lake, California Department of Water Resources