Friday, March 03, 2023

Stunning Before and After Photos of California Reservoirs Show Impact of Winter Storms

Written by Liz Lindqwister
Published Mar. 02, 2023 •


A composite of California reservoirs. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Two months of torrential downpours, atmospheric rivers and snowstorms have doused California with much-needed rainfall. Now, reservoirs across the drought-prone state are filling with rainfall, and many are nearing or exceeding historic levels, according to data first reported by the SF Chronicle.

California is home to a massive system of water reservoirs, which provide roughly 60% of the state’s total water supply in a given year. The other share comes from groundwater.

Winter is a particularly important time for these water reservoirs, as the higher levels of precipitation seen between November and March serve as a buffer for the state’s traditionally dry summer months.

Many reservoirs across the state have surpassed their average storage capacities, a phenomenon that is primarily affecting reservoirs in California’s Central Valley. Oroville, for example, is one of California’s largest water reservoirs and is currently holding more water than its historic average for this time of year.

Now, half of California is drought-free due to the rainfall and snow, Associated Press reports. Snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada region provide roughly one-third of the state’s water supply, and these snowpacks are more than 160% of the historical average on April 1.

Climate experts caution that the recent snowfall, precipitation and filling water reservoirs may not result in the end of California’s decades-long mega drought.

READ MORE: Wet Weather Could Help Bay Area Water Shortage—But Will It Solve Drought?

Check out these photos to see how water reservoirs look before and after this winter’s historic precipitation.

Images showing a contrast of water levels at Lake Oroville in April 2021 (top) and February 14, 2023, following significant rainfall (bottom). | Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this before-and-after composite image, a comparison of water levels at Nicasio Reservoir on April 23, 2021 in Nicasio, California (top) and the same vantage point on January 12, 2023 in Nicasio. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Liz Lindqwister can be reached at elindqwister@sfstandard.com

No comments:

Post a Comment