Before-and-after photos of California reservoirs show looming drought
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SAN LUIS RESERVOIR: On March 2017 (top) at 98 percent of total capacity, and 110 percent of historical average for this date and in 2021 (bottom) 58% full, or 68% of its historical average.CA Dept. of Water Resources
California's reservoirs are half empty.
The massive bodies of water that the state depends on for agriculture and everyday use in homes are dropping dramatically.
Case in point: Lake Shasta, the state's largest water reserve, is at 53% of capacity as of April 3. On the same date last year, it was at 80% of capacity.
While last winter was marked by parched conditions similar to this year, reservoirs were still full in spring 2020, as the state was coming off a run of wet rainy seasons. But at the end of a second consecutive dry winter, the reservoirs are starting to show signs of drought conditions.