We passed by a number of reservoirs in our Arizona trip this year. With record breaking snowfalls throughout the Southwest I was wondering how it was affecting the lake levels after so many years of drought.
Shasta Lake in Northern California:
When we drove by in February, Lake Shasta was at about 960 feet in elevation. Last year the maximum elevation was 980 feet. Today it is 1060 feet, 100 feet higher than in February and 8 feet below maximum capacity.
Lake Havasu:
Lake Havasu is a balancing reservoir between Lake Mead and the water's destination in Los Angeles so its level only fluctuates by 5 feet during the year. Though Lake Powell and Lake Mead are currently at 23% capacity, because LA gets so much water, Lake Havasu stays full. So if you want to go boating on the Colorado Reservoirs this is the place to go.
Lake Roosevelt:
Lake Roosevelt reached a record breaking 106% of capacity at the end of March. They have been releasing water and are now down to 105% of capacity.
Lake Powell and Lake Mead:
Despite the Colorado River snowpack reaching 160% of normal this year, lake levels in these two lakes are projected to rise only from 23% to 26% of capacity this year, presumably because most of the water will flow through to be used for irrigation and domestic use.
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