'She's full and she's beautiful:' Lake Shasta six feet from the top and near capacity

Already fuller this year than it was at this time a year ago, Lake Shasta continues to fill, creeping toward the top ― sometimes rising just inches a day. But by early May, the lake level is expected to stop rising and the long draw-down of the lake will begin again and continue through the summer.

The lake is expected to reach about 5 feet from full sometime in early May, according to Michael Burke, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Shasta Dam.

As of Friday, the lake was 6 feet from the top, which is when the water level reaches 1,067 in elevation, according to the bureau. People visiting Lake Shasta and Shasta Dam on Friday were in awe of the changes that had taken place in the lake over the past two years.

Grant Gregory and Lisa Conroy said they had a good reason to drive up to Lake Shasta on Friday to eat lunch.

"Because she's full and she's beautiful," Conroy said. "This is a blessing. This is fantastic. This is a gift of nature, to have all this rainfall that we've had for the last two winters to refill this reservoir."

The lake was about 11 feet from full at this time last year and didn't reach its fullest depth until May 24, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Two years ago, conditions at the lake were dire, with the water level down to historically low levels. Communities and farms throughout California that rely on water from Lake Shasta faced severe water cutbacks because of the statewide drought.

On April 19, 2022, the lake was at 943 in elevation, or 118 feet lower than the same date in 2024.

More:Drought-stricken Lake Shasta, other northern California lakes in good shape after rain

Drought conditions were so bad in 2022 that for the first time in its 106-year history, the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District did not deliver water to its customers because of the severe cutbacks from the bureau.

Other communities serving homes and businesses also had severe water restrictions because of the drought. But with the lake fuller this year, many water agencies are receiving their full allotment of water from the bureau.

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Burke noted that the lake will continue to fill in April, with more water flowing in that is being released from Shasta Dam. On Friday 12,044 cubic-feet per second of water was flowing into the lake, while 8,337 was being released from the dam, according to the bureau.

At some point this spring, the amount of water flowing out of the dam will exceed the amount coming into the reservoir and the water level will continue to drop until the farms stop irrigating and the rains start again in the fall.

More:South Shasta County residents deal with drought conditions not seen in 100 years

The bureau sells water to customers throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys as well as some Bay Area cities. The water flows south through the Sacramento River into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and then south again through several canals.

Burke said that in July the releases from the lake will reach their highest level, at about 12,000 cubic-feet per second.

Jayden Rankin, 10, of McKinleyville, was out visiting Lake Shasta on Friday and could see the additional benefit the water provided to wildlife in the Sacramento River.

"I think it's awesome how full it is because that means more salmon or fish can thrive in it and survive more often and give us food to eat," Jayden said.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!