Shasta Lake is nearly full following another wet winter The lake’s surface level currently sits at 1,061.70 feet just shy of its full capacity of 1,067 feet That’s 96% of total capacity and 114% of the historical average for this time of year The surge in water levels follows multiple atmospheric river storms that drenched the region during the holiday season marking a dramatic turnaround from the extreme drought years that left it cracked and barren in 2021 sitting at 96% capacity and 120% of its historical average as of Friday With reservoirs full and more runoff expected Northern California is enjoying a rare streak of water abundance—an encouraging sign after years of historic drought A fire broke out Saturday evening in Shasta Lake and reportedly was burning 2.5 acres At least two California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection helicopters flew over the area dropping water over the fire Alert California outdoor cameras pointed in the area of the fire showed a white plume of smoke billowing in the air — The City of Shasta Lake animal shelter is at full capacity and you have the chance to save a pet's life on Wednesday The animal shelter said they are at full capacity and several dogs are on the euthanasia list for Thursday the shelter is willing to cover a large portion of the alteration fee before leaving for their new home these companions have been placed on a 72-hour euthanasia list Shelter dogs Moisha, Kiva, and Zara have already been adopted; however, the shelter currently still has 10 kennels with 21 dogs and puppies looking for a home The Shasta Lake Animal Control facility is located at 3025 Ashby Road Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday 10 a.m Report a correction or typo. A pedestrian and their pet were struck and killed in the area of Howard and Seventh streets in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood Thursday afternoon A UC Berkeley animal rights activist has become a cause célèbre for “liberating” four factory-farm chickens; $100K a year now qualifies as “low-income” in SF; and the much-loved outdoor movie series Sundown Cinema is canceled this year Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox Barmann is a fiction writer and web editor who's lived in San Francisco for 20+ years Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Lake Shasta water levels are on track to reach capacity for the third consecutive year plays a critical role in the state's water management system Formed by the construction of Shasta Dam in the 1940s it can hold approximately 4.5 million acre-feet of water when at full capacity making it an essential source of water for agricultural industrial and residential use throughout California Lake Shasta's recovery is crucial because it directly supports millions of Californians and the agricultural economy of the Central Valley which is often referred to as the "breadbasket" of the United States It is also a major contributor to environmental flows that support fish and wildlife habitats During the most severe years of drought, particularly from 2020 through 2022, Lake Shasta's water levels dropped dramatically, exposing large swaths of the lakebed and causing widespread concern over water supplies across the state. In 2022, the reservoir only reached 40 percent of its entire capacity throughout the whole year Heavy precipitation in the winter and spring of 2023 dramatically reversed the trend An unusually wet season helped refill Lake Shasta to full capacity by May 2023 The 2024 winter season was also above average. Although this past winter was not as impressive as the previous two years it still provided enough precipitation and snowpack to put Lake Shasta's water levels in a good place Lake Shasta is again nearing full capacity Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) spokesperson told Newsweek that Lake Shasta was 5.11 feet from full which is 97 percent of the lake's capacity the lake reached capacity in early May before warm dry weather and increased water demand began to drop the lake levels during the summer months Lake Shasta's levels have been rising steadily since last November A USBR spokesperson told Newsweek: "The last time we had three consecutive years of being full were 2010 Lake Oroville, the state's second largest reservoir, is also nearing capacity for the third year in a row. State water agencies are continuing to monitor Lake Shasta's levels closely Officials have cautioned that despite current high water levels preparation for future drought conditions remains a priority Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Agricultural irrigators and communities south of the San Joaquin Delta that rely on water from Lake Shasta and other federal reservoirs in California will get more water this year Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that it is increasing the amount of water that south-of-Delta agencies receive from the federal Central Valley Project to 50% of their total contracted amount Agencies north of the Delta that receive federal water will receive 100% of their contracts the bureau initially allocated 35% of contract amount to agricultural and municipal agencies south of the Delta but higher-than-average snow and rainfall this past winter have North State reservoirs rising Lake Shasta was 115% of average for this time of year and Trinity Lake was 116% of average Both are Central Valley Project reservoirs Lake Shasta is the largest reservoir in California and is the keystone in the Central Valley Project Lake Shasta was 97% full and Trinity Lake was 96% full according to the State Department of Water Resources with the amount of water flowing into the lake much higher than what was being released from Shasta Dam into Keswick Lake and the Sacramento River 9,631 cubic feet per second was flowing into Lake Shasta while 5,941 was being released from the dam In announcing the increase in water deliveries to the San Joaquin Valley the bureau noted it was following a Trump administration order issued earlier this year during a series of devastating Southern California wildfires The executive order was aimed at sending more water to Central and Southern California which seeks to maximize water supplies within the Central Valley Project," said Acting California-Great Basin Regional Director Adam Nickels Trump's order was issued in January in response to a perceived water shortage in some Southern California areas as fires raged in the Los Angeles area After some fire hydrants went dry during the Palisades Fire Trump criticized California elected officials Gavin Newsom for mismanaging the state's water After the president issued the executive order federal water managers released some 2.2 billion gallons of water during the winter but that water was being stored in Tulare County reservoirs to irrigate crops during the summer The water in Tulare County did not reach the Los Angeles area Some fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran dry during early stages of the fires head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said hydrants are designed for fighting fires at one or two houses at a time Fire officials said at the time that they would normally rely more heavily on air tankers to fight the blazes but high winds at the time prevented their use Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said 20% of city operated hydrants went dry during the Palisades Fire Lake Shasta, California's largest reservoir, is nearing full capacity for the third consecutive year signaling a dramatic recovery from the drought-stricken years of the early 2020s A timelapse video shared on social media earlier this week shows the impressive change the reservoir has undergone over the last three years Lake Shasta is a critical part of California's water infrastructure it represents 41 percent of the water in the Central Valley Project San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area The reservoir's current condition is a marked contrast from late 2022 when the lake was just 31 percent full after several years of below-average rainfall Thanks to a series of wet winters and robust snowpack the state's biggest reservoir has steadily recovered—reaching full capacity in May 2023 and 2024 A timelapse shared on X, formerly Twitter earlier this week shows images of the lake taken in 2022 "California's largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, is virtually full for the third straight year," extreme weather chaser Colin McCarthy posted with the video California’s largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, is virtually full for the third straight year.The reservoir holds nearly 1.5 trillion gallons of water, which is enough to cover the entire state of California in half an inch of water. pic.twitter.com/Dn9eSfQOSi Parts of the lakebed can be seen in the satellite image from 2022 and the images for the following years showcase the lake's recovery the reservoir's surface elevation stands at 1,061.41 feet—just 5.59 feet below its full pool of 1,067 feet The lake has been steadily rising since November Lake Shasta's water level sat at just 913.5 feet A record-setting wet season during winter 2022-2023 brought an influx of runoff lifting the lake above 1,062.9 feet by the end of April 2023 The 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 winters followed with similarly wet conditions including near-normal Sierra Nevada snowpack in early 2025 California's snowpack was at 96 percent of the historical average a key contributor to continued high inflows into Shasta and other major reservoirs A USBR spokesperson told Newsweek on April 28: "As of today we are 5.11 feet from full at 97% and an elevation of 1,061.89 the last time we had three consecutive years of being full were 2010 McCarthy said in his post: "The reservoir holds nearly 1.5 trillion gallons of water which is enough to cover the entire state of California in half an inch of water." Join us for a 12-hour food drive Friday, 6am to 6pm, in Redding or Chico. Help stuff a RABA or B-Line bus at Les Schwab with food donations! LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake HHSA office closed indefinitely due to floodingby Adam Robinson — The Shasta Lake office of Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has been closed indefinitely following flooding typically serves clients seeking assistance with eligibility for programs such as CalFresh clients can receive help by calling HHSA’s Customer Service Center at (877) 652-0731 or by visiting benefitscal.com To report errors or issues with this article, please email the editorial team Two adults were injured while a nine-month-old baby boy from Shasta Lake is believed to have died after a car went off the road and into the Trinity River traffic early Thursday morning according to the California Highway Patrol The driver of a 2004 Lexus going eastbound on Highway 299 at an unknown speed veered off the road and went down an embankment before going into the river were taken to Trinity Hospital with minor to moderate injuries There have been no arrests in connection with the crash and neither alcohol or drugs were a factor The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Trinity River Area CHP Michele Chandler covers public safety, dining and whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom's commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today. LIVE UPDATESShasta County Sheriff's to conduct DUI checkpoint in City of Shasta Lake on Saturdayby Marion Rodriguez March 29 the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) will be conducting a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the City of Shasta Lake starting at 6 p.m SCSO said checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol Some prescription medications and over the counter medications can interfere with your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and ultimately result in a DUI while medicinal and recreational marijuana use is legal to use and possess in the State of California driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal SCSO said drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program backyards and amphitheaters from Redding to Cottonwood this past week federal officials plan to start dialing back the amount of water being released from Shasta Dam into the river announced releases from Shasta would be reduced gradually from 60,000 cubic-feet per second to 40,000 cubic-feet per second (cfs) by 8 a.m The bureau increased the amount of water flowing out of the two reservoirs to make room for more water flowing into Lake Shasta During and after the recent fires in Los Angeles the Trump Administration touted its ability to release water from California reservoirs to benefit Southern California residents But Los Angeles residents were not cited as the reason for the recent Shasta Dam releases Lake Shasta was 15 feet from being full when the bureau began increasing releases from Shasta Dam last week the lake was 23 feet from maximum capacity about 62,000 cfs was flowing out of Keswick Dam into the Sacramento River north of Redding But tributaries below the dam added to the flow bringing the amount of water in the river to nearly 70,000 cfs just north of Red Bluff so 463,760 gallons of water a second was flowing down the Sacramento River through Redding on Tuesday afternoon Several residents drove down to the river's edge to take in the spectacle Tuesday You know how fast this river is moving right now and how much water is traveling down it We just came down here to view the power of the river," said Steve Bird of Redding who strolled down the river walk along shore at Caldwell Park with Michelle Herr and their dogs Bella and Bailey Shasta County top $6MWhile many people chose to take a leisurely stroll to look at the water as it rose to unusual heights along the shoreline the river came perilously close to some homes south of Redding The Sacramento River raced by and lapped against the shore of Philip Quilala's back porch and flooded a portion of a gazebo behind his home on Riverside Drive in Anderson Sheriff Michael Johnson declared a state of emergency in the county on Feb 5 due to damage caused by heavy rains to roads In a presentation to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday sheriff's Lt Rob Sandbloom said flooding from the February storms have caused millions of dollars in damages in communities from Shasta Lake to Anderson Damage in the city of Redding was estimated at $5 million; Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District canals had about $500,000 in damage Unincorporated parts of the county had some $300,000 in damage; city of Shasta Lake Most of the damage in Redding was caused by a broken pipe near the Bonnyview boat ramp along the Sacramento River The boat launch was closed down because the road leading to the river created a sink hole because of the damaged pipe the city's assistant public works director Anthony said he wasn't sure if the damaged storm drain pipe was caused by the heavy rains or higher flows from Shasta Dam He said there was also some flooding on Park Marina Drive and in Caldwell Park but he was unsure if the water on the road and in the park had caused significant damage Redding had received just under 9 inches of rain this month The normal amount of rainfall for Redding on this date is about 2 inches A large portion of Anderson River Park also was flooded Tuesday including the parking lot and the amphitheater where the annual Mosquito Serenade is held weekly in the summer Since the rain storms began and the water in the river began flowing higher Joe and Barbara Osness of Redding had been walking trails from Lake Shasta to Redding to observe the flooding What they saw at Anderson River Park on Tuesday was "shocking," Barbara Osness said "We've been walking in this park for years and years and years and years We've never been down when the water's been up like this LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake expected to reach full capacity by end of Mayby Christina Mendez — A late surge of wet weather this winter is setting the stage for a promising summer at Shasta Lake with predictions indicating the lake will be full by the end of May Employees at Jones Valley Resort have already seen a spike in reservations as anticipation builds for the upcoming summer season February's heavy rainfall brought the lake to within 16 feet of its crest water releases from Shasta Dam temporarily lowered the levels causing initial concern among resort staff The Shasta Lake Business Owners Association predicts the lake will be 13 feet from crest by the end of May Business owners are hopeful these conditions will lead to a bustling summer season on the lake Shasta Dam will increase water releases again to receive more rain from the storms passing through Redding and far Northern California through Friday could mean more flooding along the Sacramento River affecting homes and businesses in parts of Redding and Anderson That prompted Shasta Sheriff Michael Johnson to close the Sacramento River to recreational boating below Shasta Dam to the county line starting at 6 p.m The storms and runoff from hard rains this week boosted Lake Shasta's water level another 5 feet through Wednesday according to the California Department of Water Resources has risen about 20 feet so far in February Lake Shasta waters were 16.3 feet from the top according to Tara Jane Campbell Miranda at the Bureau of Reclamation The amount of water flowing into the lake from the recent rains was 102,213 cubic feet per second since Tuesday The bureau is expected to gradually pump out 60,000 cfs by Friday night at 10 p.m Rising waters prompted bureau officials to start releasing more water out of Keswick Dam — downstream from Shasta Dam — on Thursday morning to bring lake levels down "Homeowners whose properties are adjacent to the Sacramento River should take precautionary measures such as moving personal property to higher ground and/or sandbagging," said sheriff's office spokesman Tim Mapes said in a statement released Thursday Sandbag locations in Shasta County can be found by going to www.shastasheriff.org even with no rainfall in Redding on Wednesday as runoff poured into the reservoir from the surrounding foothills The lake went up a total of 22.3 feet since Jan the day before a series of winter storms rolled over the North State Lake Shasta was 89% full as of Wednesday and contained a third more water (134%) than it usually does at this time of year the lake was only 76% full and at 118% of its historic average on Jan Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know With more rain and increasing dam releases, communities in low-lying land along the Sacramento River could flood worse than they already have so far this week Those in Shasta County hardest hit by flooding include roads homes and businesses along Park Marina Drive in Redding and the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District canal Please refresh your browser for the latest radar loop Another storm arrived over California on Thursday we could get up to 2 inches by lunchtime on Friday,” and another inch in Redding meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento A few light showers might show up Friday afternoon but the weekend looks much drier through Monday Afternoon temperatures won’t go above the 50s a few degrees colder than usual in early February Expect more rain during the second half of next week The strong wet storm that hit the Redding area at the beginning of February dumped a total of 14 inches of rain on Redding and Lake Shasta Last Sunday’s 4.33 inches of rain set a new rainfall record for Redding This story was updated to reflect new increases in the amount of water flowing out of Lake Shasta Lake Shasta waters lapped 30 feet from its top after an atmospheric river dropped more than 8 inches of rain in the Redding area since last Friday — and a new storm is expected to bring more rain to the region Last weekend's rainstorm pushed Lake Shasta levels up almost four feet between last Friday and Sunday according to California Department of Water Resources data Here’s how full Lake Shasta and other North State lakes were at the start of the week and how much more rain Lake Shasta could get Lake Shasta levels sat at 1,037 feet above sea level — up 5 feet from the previous day The lake has gone up nearly 10 feet since last Friday How full is Lake Shasta?As of midnight Monday Lake Shasta held 82% of its total capacity That’s about a fifth more (120%) than it usually holds this time of year according to historic data from the California Department of Water Resources here's an approximation of how many California families it would take to use up the water currently in Lake Shasta in a calendar year Scientists measure water volume in acre feet. One acre-foot is equivalent to 325,851 gallons of water. That’s “considered enough water to meet the needs of two families of four for one year,” according to the city of San Diego Lake Shasta held not quite 3.6 million AF of its 4.55 million AF capacity That's enough for about seven million families for a year — not accounting for major variables like evaporation Lake Shasta waters fell to their lowest point of 2024 (985.52 feet) on Nov. 18 More: How deep are Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville, 5 other popular California reservoirs? with unusually warm afternoons and freezing cold mornings Lake Shasta isn't the only North State lake benefiting from winter storms The California Department of Water Resources reported the following water levels at these far Northern California reservoirs Data reflects changes between midnight on Friday and midnight on Tuesday Record Searchlight reporters Damon Arthur and David Benda contributed to this story (This story has been updated with new water level figures for Lake Shasta and California reservoirs.) Lake Shasta water levels are still higher than usual for this time of year Bureau of Reclamation officials released 10 times the amount of water flowing through Shasta and Keswick dams during the second week of February At just under 1,037 feet, Shasta Dam was lapping almost 30 feet from the top of the reservoir (1,067 feet) on Thursday, according to the California Department of Water Resources But the amount of water in the state's largest reservoir is much closer to its historical average for this time of year than it was a week ago days after record breaking rainfall drenched the greater Redding area and the North State just under 10 inches of rain had fallen in Redding so far in February The sun will come out off and on through the first half of next week Redding residents will have a pleasant winter weekend to play outdoors with only a few mountain showers possibly drizzling on the fun according to the National Weather Service forecast February was a wet one for the Redding area Winter storms dropped 17.5 inches of rain at the dam during the first half of February according to weather service meteorologist Katrina Hand “Redding broke a daily rainfall record on Feb with 4.33 inches.” It was “the wettest February day on record” for the city and with at least another couple months of possible rainy season to go it’s hard to tell if the 2024-25 water year will be a wet one overall Keswick DamRising lake waters and flooding along the Sacramento River in Shasta County likewise raised concerns the lake was getting too full this early in the wet season According to state water resources data the amount of rain and runoff flowing into the lake reached 102,213 cubic feet per second which is the equivalent to 764,553 gallons the dam was releasing 2,116 cfs or 15,828 gallons and held a third (35%) more water than usual for that date That prompted the bureau to increase the amount of water flowing out of Shasta Dam — regulated at Keswick Dam — in increments The bureau reduced water releases from more than 60,000 cfs to 40,000 cfs as of Thursday morning The amount of water released that day wasn’t available as of Friday morning LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake offers $200 vouchers for dog spaying and neutering programby Christina Mendez — The City of Shasta Lake Animal Shelter has launched a new program to help residents save money on spaying and neutering their dogs The shelter is offering a $200 voucher to Shasta Lake residents funded by a grant from the California for All Animals program and UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Boone explained that the cost of the procedure varies based on factors such as the dog's size with some procedures costing as much as $1,000 for a Corgi Residents can apply for vouchers for up to four dogs per household provided they can prove ownership and residency in Shasta Lake The shelter is also seeking volunteers to help make a difference in the community More information and a link to the application can be found here — The Biden-Harris administration has announced over $65 million in funding for 11 projects in Northern California aimed at modernizing water infrastructure and bolstering drought resilience according to the Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) This funding is part of a broader $849 million initiative under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda which seeks to revitalize aging water delivery systems across the Western United States USBR Senior Counselor John Watts revealed the funding during a visit to Shasta Dam located about nine miles northwest of Redding on the Sacramento River The USBR said the projects will focus on improving water conveyance and storage funds will be allocated for fishery improvements Among the projects is crucial transformer work at Shasta Dam's power plant with projects costing $11.2 million and $7.25 million necessitating a replacement project valued at over $9.5 million The pumping plant also supplies water to the City of Shasta Lake The USBR said a $2.5 million project will ensure the continue flow of water to the city “There’s a pipe that comes out the side of the dam which goes down to the pumping plant down below the dam and pumps the water up to above us It’s essential for the City of Shasta Lake’s water supply and we’re spending $2.5 million to modernize those facilities for being here to announce this," Watts said Acting Area Manager Elizabeth Hadley emphasized the importance of these projects "Shasta Dam was completed nearly 80 years ago These projects are vital to our critical infrastructure here in Northern California I am proud of our team at the Northern California Area Office that will carry out these projects that will benefit the communities we serve." Additional projects include work at Keswick Dam as well as a $20 million modernization of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery east of Cottonwood The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funded nearly 600 projects and restore ecosystems across numerous communities President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history providing critical resources to strengthen Western communities' resilience to drought and climate change To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team We’ve detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using x.com You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center Help Center — Shasta Lake is rolling out plans for a new skate park with construction officially underway following a groundbreaking ceremony on Hardenbrook Avenue The Shasta Lake Skatepark is being funded by a $2.4 million allocation from the American Recovery Act with the majority of the funds dedicated to enhancing local parks The skate park will utilize $1.6 million of the federal funding with additional state funds earmarked for restrooms and a pavilion to complete the site the project is expected to be completed by next summer Bureau of Reclamation officials said they plan to keep heavy flows pouring out of Lake Shasta at Keswick Dam through Sunday or longer That’s after Lake Shasta waters went up another 2 feet in 24 hours as of Thursday, leaving the reservoir lapped about 15 feet from the top, according to the California Department of Water Resources Bureau of Reclamation officials will decide their next move — in part based on how much more rain is in Redding’s forecast The good news is there’s a break in the rain through Wednesday that dropped more than a foot of rain on the Redding area since Jan until the next round of winter storms arrive mid-week it contained more than a third more water (136%) than it usually does at this time of year: The lake was 76% full on Jan before early February storms hit Shasta County Shasta County Public Works Director Troy Bartolomei said most of the flooding from creeks swollen with rain happened in the Palo Cedro-Bella Vista area east of Redding “Because the places that flooded are not super close to the Sacramento River the increased (Shasta Dam water releases) shouldn’t affect those areas too much,” Bartolomei said Bartolomei didn't have an estimate of how much damage the flooding has caused But he said the county has spent about $50,000 to $100,000 to repair culverts and other infrastructure “Thank goodness the weather is cooperating and the waters are subsiding,” he said Friday morning long storm ahead of a second storm that saturated the soil,” Bartolomei added the damage from this week’s rains pales in comparison to damage storms did countywide in 2016-17 We’re still doing storm repairs on Cove Road How much water is flowing out of Lake Shasta at Keswick DamWater releases through Keswick Dam this weekend will reach 60,000 cubic feet per second Friday marked the second day in a row the bureau announced it would increase flows out of Shasta Dam, and down an already flooded Sacramento River. The bureau increased flows to 30,000 on Thursday, up from 7, 500 cfs Wednesday after Lake Shasta water levels went up another 5 feet in 24 hours Even with a break in the rain on Wednesday runoff from more than a foot of rain poured off the foothills and into the lake The lake's water level went up a total of 24.4 feet since Jan the day before heavy winter rainstorms hit the North State Redding expected to get more rainIt wasn't just water from Lake Shasta filling waterways on Thursday Redding got just under an inch of rain (.9) during the latest winter storm to hit the region said meteorologist Sara Purdue at the National Weather Service in Sacramento Weather service forecasters predict another winter storm will drop rain on Redding starting Wednesday Please refresh your browser for the latest radar loops Since last month’s atmospheric river that drenched the North State the water level in Lake Shasta — California's largest manmade reservoir — has shot up nearly 20 feet get ready for more rain in the northern Sacramento Valley as the region enters another wet pattern that is expected to go through Christmas As of Monday, the elevation at Shasta Dam was at 1,003 feet, 18 feet higher than where it stood in mid-November before the area got soaked with record amounts of rain that jump-started the water season With the last several days of wet weather the water level at Lake Shasta has risen 6 feet since the start of December Lake Shasta stood at 113% of the historical average and 64% full as of midnight Monday That’s down slightly from a year ago when the lake was 118% of its historical average and 67% full The northern Sacramento Valley will dry out over the next few days before the rain returns Saturday it will be a fairly warm system that comes through,” Sacramento-based National Weather Service meteorologist Sara Purdue said Snow levels are expected to be between 7,000 feet and 8,000 feet There is a good chance lower elevation levels in Shasta County will get up to an inch of rain over the weekend “There is a tropical moisture coming in,” Purdue said “Essentially there is an area of low pressure out over the Pacific sort of glancing off us periodically … So that is why snow levels are staying pretty high The cold air is just not getting down to us.” That’s a change from the cold systems that have been dropping rain and snow in the lower elevations of the region Mt. Shasta Ski Park reported Tuesday morning 5 inches of new snow and there is more than 5 feet of snow at the top of its Douglas chairlift But snow levels at the ski park over the weekend will start out at about 5,000 feet before rising to nearly 7,000 feet by Monday The base lodge at the ski park sits at 5,500 feet There is a chance for rain in the North State for much of next week “I know the forecast totals for the northern Sacramento Valley and higher elevations in particular have kind of changed over the last 24 hours so there is still quite a bit uncertainty,” Purdue said of rain amounts “Based on what I am seeing so far, it will be nothing as bad as the one system that came through a month ago,” she added California is only halfway through the rain year the rainfall and snowfall amounts exceed what the area typically receives in total precipitation making 2025 one of the wettest years since 2019 the city recorded about 36 inches of rain and snow about 8 inches more than its historic average for this time of year you'd still end up about 4 inches above normal” for the entire year said meteorologist Bill Rasch at the weather service's Sacramento branch Wet winter storms left waters in California’s largest reservoir the lake contained 113% of the water it usually does on that date with a few more light April showers in the forecast and runoff from rain and snow on the ground All this is mostly good news for firefighters and businesses relying on boating and other recreation this summer as the area heads out of the rainy season and into drier weather this month While wet seasons mean more vegetation growing that can dry out a burn wet years usually mean calmer fire seasons That's because well-hydrated plants just don't burn as fast Lake Shasta water levels go upLake Shasta waters went up approximately a foot per day since last Saturday Lake levels were 15.8 feet from the reservoir’s top by Tuesday: About half a foot below the lake's highest point in 2025 with at least another month of rain in the forecast How Redding's 2025 water year compares to past yearsRedding already got more precipitation (36 inches) in six months than it got during the last water year The city received 32.15 inches of rain between Oct That's slightly above the historic average "Last year was about as normal as it gets," Rasch said Redding had logged 35 inches of precipitation It's possible 2024-2025 could be even wetter than two years ago More: Parts of California severely dry while others are drought free for first time since 2019 While it’s tricky to predict what spring skies will do a month in advance long-term forecasts from AccuWeather and the weather service suggest Redding's April 1 thunderstorms mark the end of heavy rain this spring The exception is a possible storm around April 21 and a few scattered April showers throughout the month While it's shaping up to be a wet year overall the rainy season was anything but consistent Not all of Redding's winter precipitation was rain A cold winter storm on March 14 dropped snow on the Sacramento Valley floor as low as Redding As much as 4 inches of snow fell in parts of the Redding area since Oct. 1, 2024: Mostly in the north, and to the west near Whiskeytown, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Up to 1.5 feet of snow fell in the foothills near Shasta Lake in the same 6-month period Here are snow totals in Shasta County mountain towns: For snow totals by zip code, see the Snowfall Tracker at data.redding.com/projects/snowfall-accumulation-tracker LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake community gears up for new skateparkby Adam Robinson — The Shasta Lake community is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new skatepark with design and construction led by Spohn Ranch The skatepark will be located at the Civic Center Campus created in collaboration with professional skateboarder Lance Mountain Construction is expected to begin this winter or spring Community and Economic Development Manager said the city received American Rescue Plan Act funds which the city council voted a majority of the 2.5 million dollar grand money to go to park projects 1.5 million of that grant went to this skate park project “We did a bunch of outreach with the community,” Zeller said “[we] did a survey had about 100 respondents and with that they said they like a nice safe space for the community to come and gather this is located right next to our sheriff’s substation as well as city hall and the community center so we thought that this would be a prime location to start building this out.” partners and dedicated residents have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition Zeller says they will be working with the community to come up with a name for the park that the city council will ultimately decide on To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team. LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake's new pet mayor is a door-opening counter-surfing Goldendoodle named Dwightby Marion Rodriguez SHASTA LAKE, Calif. — The Shasta Damboree has declared Dwight the dog as the City of Shasta Lake's new pet mayor! Dwight was voted pet mayor in the city's second annual contest, with Piper coming in second place having raised $1,034, Joey in third place raising $350, Charlie in fourth place raising $232, and Steeler in fifth place raising $160. The Shasta Damboree said every vote that was cast has helped support the Shasta Damboree and community events. The damboree shared on their webpage, Dwight is a 3-year-old Goldendoodle who is as naughty as they come. His constant food obsession gets him in all sorts of trouble. He’s always up to something, and it’s usually no good. His charm and funny personality get him out of the “dog house” because you just can’t be mad at such a cute face! He can open every single door in his home, he’s a professional counter surfer and the smartest trickster ever. Although the new pet mayor has no official duties, you can root on the new pet mayor at the Shasta Damboree Parade on Saturday, May 10. Shasta Lake is kicking off 2025 with its highest January water levels in at least 15 years, thanks to a series of atmospheric rivers that bolstered the reservoir throughout late 2024. As of Tuesday, the lake’s water level stood at 1,030.63 feet, edging close to its full capacity of 1,067 feet. This marks a significant improvement compared to previous years—Shasta Lake began 2024 at 1,013 feet and 2023 at just 928 feet. The last time the reservoir saw a comparable start to the year was in 2011, when levels reached 1,028.1 feet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Active NorCal (@active_norcal) Shasta Lake’s recovery follows a challenging period of low water levels during California’s recent yearslong drought. While the reservoir nearly reached capacity in the late springs of 2023 and 2024, this January’s strong start signals continued improvement. Snowpack in the northern Sierra Nevada, which feeds the state’s reservoirs, is currently 150 percent of normal, according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR). However, conditions vary across the state, with the southern Sierra snowpack lagging at just 67 percent of normal. DWR officials caution that consistent winter storms are needed to maintain these promising water levels through the critical April snow survey. The possibility of additional atmospheric rivers in the coming months could further improve conditions, with forecasts suggesting these storms may shift toward Southern California in January. LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake sees rise of new affordable housing and commercial space on boulevardby Ashley Harting, Mike Mangas SHASTA LAKE, Calif. — The tallest buildings in the center of the City of Shasta Lake's commercial district are rising along Shasta Dam Boulevard. The three-story Cascade Village housing project is a partnership between the city and K2 Development Companies, featuring 49 units of affordable housing on both sides of the boulevard, with two floors of apartments and 5,000 to 6,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. City Public Works Director Will Bond said the project is about 50% complete, and a streetscaping and pedestrian safety element is also included. "Having grown up here, I have driven up and down Shasta Dam Boulevard for the better part of 35 years," he said. "I think this will help create a sense of a home base for people and a downtown area, with landscaped medians that slow people down so they can look around and perhaps take more pride in their community than they already do." City Manager Jessica Lugo noted that the 49 units address part of the need for 300 more housing units in Shasta Lake and could be the start of something bigger. "This is actually one of the larger projects the city has ever undertaken with our partners," she said. "It is that the mixed-use that the community has sought after. The hope is that this will also go all along the boulevard and hopefully start engaging developers to invest in Shasta Lake." The project is expected to be completed in slightly less than a year, around September or October 2025. Lugo mentioned she is aware of some businesses interested in opening in Cascade Village, but the release of that information is up to K2 Development. LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake invites residents to help name new skate park by Ashley Harting The city announced that name suggestions will be reviewed at the April Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting Residents can submit their ideas by filling out an online form available at cityofshastalake.org or by picking up a form at City Hall David Raun keeps a close eye on what's going on with the water level at Lake Shasta So far he likes what he has seen happen to California's largest reservoir over the past six weeks Since the lake level reached its lowest point of the year on Nov and initially the dam was letting out quite a bit of water they're not letting out as much because everything's filling up fast." Raun and his wife operate Shasta Lakeshore Retreat so they also have a business interest in whether the lake is full or low Raun said the lake level is moving in the right direction which could mean good things when the tourist season kicks in this spring "It went up three feet in one day a couple days ago but it's been averaging almost a foot a day for acouple months now," Raun said the lake level was at 985.52 feet above sea level But several storms brought in heavy rainfall over a six-week span The lake is considered full when the water level reaches 1,067 feet above sea level so it still has a ways to go before it reaches maximum Most of the rain in the North State falls from October to May Lake Shasta was 129% of historical average for the date and 76% full Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do, please consider subscribing to the Record Searchlight/Redding.com or give the gift of a subscription to someone you know Raun said he is surprised at online commenters who complain when the Bureau of Reclamation releases water from Lake Shasta He noted that water is stored behind Shasta Dam during the rainy season water is sent downstream for cities and farms throughout much of California Many of the reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada are filled with snowmelt but Lake Shasta is fed mainly by rain runoff millions of gallons of runoff have poured into the reservoir from the McCloud as well as the numerous creeks that feed the lake We have a couple creeks that go right by our houses They are just roaring right now because of all the heavy rain an average 61,062 cubic feet per second of water flowed into the reservoir which at 7.48 gallons per cubic foot translates to 456,743 gallons of water gushing into the lake every second The department of water resources website says the lake has received about 35 inches of rain since the major storms began to fall over Lake Shasta after Nov The rain this year hasn't been isolated over the lake Redding and the rest of the North State have also received a generous amount of rain Redding had received 41 inches of rain since Jan far above the 33 inches normally recorded at the Redding Regional Airport in that time span Redding is expected to receive more rain this week with a chance of showers likely Wednesday and a chance of showers Thursday There's an 80% chance of showers Friday and then the forecast is for partly cloudy Saturday A winter storm moving over Shasta County Wednesday night could drop 3 to 4 inches of snow on Redding and Shasta Lake by Thursday morning update to the weather service’s forecast places Redding in the thick of a very cold block of air left over from the lingering cold snap at the beginning of the week that air is trapped by the mountains at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley said meteorologist Kate Forrest at the weather service’s Sacramento branch Redding could get snow instead of rain through Thursday morning at the beginning of a three-day winter storm That snow might even stay on the ground until after sunrise Thursday morning The weather service issued a winter storm warning for the area The snow will get deeper the farther north people go along the Interstate 5 corridor the warmer storm should push that cold air out of the valley floor in the city and surrounding area snow accumulation in the city and the immediate vicinity After the storm settles in over Shasta County it will drop 1 to 1.5 inches of rain on Redding; 2-3 inches on Lake Shasta at Shasta Dam The weather service also issued a flood watch for Redding and the rest of the Sacramento Valley It spans from north Shasta County to the Sacramento area causing flooding in low-lying parts of Redding in the foothills and mountains along the Interstate 5 corridor Mountain Gate and Lakehead could see up to 8 inches of snow by Friday Some areas farther north could see a foot of snow Dunsmuir and Mount Shasta will receive up to 6 inches of snow by Friday Drivers should expect chain controls and traffic delays Motorists can check road conditions in advance at the California Department of Transportation’s  QuickMap at quickmap.dot.ca.gov LIVE UPDATESThree arrested in Shasta Lake narcotics bust, home deemed unsafeby Ashley Harting SHASTA LAKE, Calif. — A search warrant execution led to the arrest of three individuals at a residence in the City of Shasta Lake on Thursday, February 27. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies from the Shasta Lake and South County Stations, along with the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force, arrived at a home on the 1900 block of Grand Coulee Blvd. at approximately 10:38 a.m. to serve the warrant. Authorities found nine people at the location. Among them, Victor Ramirez, 50, was detained for actively destroying evidence, according to police. During the search, law enforcement discovered evidence of narcotics possession intended for sale. The Sheriff's Office stated that the residence was being used for narcotics sales. Ramirez and Tanja Grigalba, 65, were arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sales. Additionally, Raymond Grigalba, 56, was taken into custody on an outstanding work release warrant. He is also part of the Shasta County Chronic Offenders Program, according to the Sheriff's Office. The Shasta Lake Code Enforcement officers identified multiple city code violations at the property, leading to the home being "red tagged" as unsafe for occupancy. All remaining occupants were asked to vacate the premises. LIVE UPDATESWind uproots century-old oak crushes cars in Shasta Lakeby Christina Mendez — Powerful winds wreaked havoc in Shasta Lake this morning toppling a massive oak tree onto two cars and downing a power line The National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory warning that gusts could reach up to 45 miles per hour Rich's family has owned the house and the tree for over 20 years with her son estimating the tree's age at nearly 100 years Rich expressed relief that the city and her neighbors responded swiftly to the incident and that no one was injured You can help Rich's raise money for her cars and to fix her yard here. Three incumbents look to keep their seats on the Shasta Lake City Council in Tuesday's election. Follow the results on Redding.com and check back on this story for updates. With 100% of the precincts reporting, challenger Daniel Ringwelski, incumbent Greg Watkins and challenger Toni Coates led the race for three seats on the Shasta Lake City Council. Ringwelski had 24.11% of the vote, Watkins had 22.29% of the vote and Coates had 16.52% of the vote, according to unofficial vote results released early Wednesday and 100% of precincts reporting. Challenger Daniel Ringwelski, incumbent Greg Watkins and challenger Toni Coates took the lead in the race for three seats on the Shasta Lake City Council. Ringwelski has 22.71% of the vote, Watkins has 22.12% of the vote and Coates has 16.89% of the vote, according to votes released early Wednesday. Longtime Councilman Greg Watkins wants to serve a fifth term on the dais. He was first elected in 2008. Mayor Janice Powell wants a third term and Councilwoman Tena Eisenbeisz wants a second term after she won a special election in March 2023 to fill the seat vacated by Matt Doyle when he moved out of the city. Challenging the three incumbents are retired City Clerk Toni Coates, retired California Highway Patrol Officer Daniel Ringwelski and businesswoman Dolores Lucero, who’s also running for Shasta Board of Education, Area 2 on the Nov. 5 ballot. Lucero previously served on the Shasta Lake City Council but was ousted in 2012. In 2014, a Shasta County jury found her guilty of presenting false evidence in court documents aimed at stopping the 2012 recall, a crime she denied. The candidates told the Record Searchlight in September that issues like maintaining or replacing utilities, bringing more business into the city and public safety are important to them. LIVE UPDATESShasta Lake woman arrested for felony child abuseby Christopher West Calif — A 22-year-old Shasta Lake woman was arrested for felony child abuse after a welfare check revealed signs of abuse on an infant the Shasta County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced Deputies responded to a home on Hardenbrook Avenue at around 11:16 a.m on Sunday where they contacted Aleesha Ann Allen The SCSO said deputies interviewed Allen and observed obvious signs of abuse to the infant Allen was subsequently arrested for child abuse with possible great bodily injury and the infant and another child were released to the care and custody of family members Many in greater Redding habitually stroll along parts of the Sacramento River Trail they may not realize area trails offer hikers and cyclists longer excursions that are still close to home Here are eight highly-rated and family-friendly routes for beginners to moderately experienced hikers starting with 3.5 easy miles and working up to 35 mile routes rivers and lakes or surrounding wild lands Most allow leashed dogs and are open year round barring flooding or unusual weather conditions Lengths and walking times are approximations so budget more time if you're a beginner or if you take children Highest ranked 3.5- to 5.9-mile hikes in Redding areaChamise Peak Trail4.8 miles out and back take connecting trail to nearby Lema Ranch who gave the Churn Creek Trail system 4.6 out of 5 stars on AllTrails The popular Sacramento River Trail loop is and easily accessible route through the city It winds along the river through riparian forest affording urban and rural views of the Sundial Bridge with plenty of paved trail — although the steep zigzagging trail access from north Hilltop Drive may challenge some people Tree canopy covering much of the trail and its mostly lowland location make the loop a cooler walk than other trails during Redding's triple digit summers according to hikers who gave the trail 4.9 out of 5 stars on Yelp Access the loop at venues throughout the city including off Hilltop Drive and at the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay People can hike or mountain bike this moderately challenging dirt trail in the Swasey Recreation Area It's lauded by hikers as a great place to bird watch and see spring wildflowers and has ridge top views of Lassen Peak and Mount Shasta on a clear day Expect little shade and some steep areas and switchbacks during the 1.5-hour trip Parts of the trail flooded during heavy rains in February so check conditions before you go if recent weather included strong storms The Wintu Trail Loop earned a 4.5 out of 5 stars on AllTrails Highest ranked 6- to 10-mile hikes in Redding areaEscalator Trail and Meiner's Trail Loop8 miles the Escalator Trail and Meiner's Trail Loop takes 3.5 hours to complete It's a great place to see spring wildflowers and there are beautiful views of the Sacramento Valley year round hikers reported the trail covers a 900-foot change in altitude This hike earned 5 out of 5 stars on Hiiker Hornbeck earned 4.5 out of five stars on Yelp fill water bottles and buy snacks before you pass the Ribbon Bridge if you plan to continue (through wilderness) to the dam This hike earned 4.7 out of 5 stars on AllTrails Take a dam fine hike northwest of Redding between California's largest reservoir (Lake Shasta) at Shasta Dam to the Keswick Dam Trailhead off Keswick Dam Road This hike covers the northern two-thirds of the Lake Shasta to the Sundial Bridge route (described above) Parking at the Keswick Dam Trailhead is limited so it may be better to park and start at Shasta Dam Hikers gave this trail 4.6 out of 5 stars on AllTrails A pair of storms moving through Redding this week could dump 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in the region helping bring up water levels at Lakes Shasta and raising hope California's largest reservoir will fill up for a third straight year if a robust La Niña arrives this winter The lake was at 56% total capacity as of Monday according to the state Department of Water Resources' most recent data said the water level in the lake is just under 27 feet lower today than it was a year ago "The one factor leading to less water is the fact that the inflows to Shasta Reservoir were less in water year 2024 than they were in 2023 releases from Shasta were greater to help meet downstream needs of the system," Burke said in a text message to the Record Searchlight Lake Shasta started its booming summer season essentially full This year, the temperature high reached at least 100 degree 69 times, tying it with 2021 for the third most 100 degree or higher days for a calendar year. The record was set in 2017 with 72 during a La Niña year there is an equal chance for wet or dry weather especially recently in the last couple La Niñas a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Sacramento The Climate Prediction Center said that La Niña conditions would start showing up in September through November and then persist January through March The temperature and precipitation outlook for Northern California over the next two weeks is near normal Rick said the weather for Thanksgiving could be unsettled but it’s still too early to be certain With a pair of wet systems moving through greater Redding this week But will it be enough to end the 2024 fire season in Northern California but dry weather combined with wind could ignite grass fires," California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Jas Shaw said Shaw said landowners must have a permit to burn on their property They also have to adhere to safety guidelines such as being present during the burn burning piles no larger than 4-feet-by-4 feet with a 10-foot clearance have a water source and have proper tools such as a shovel The first of two systems hit the northern Sacramento Valley on Monday morning most of the rain had moved through the area The next system that arrives Tuesday night and into Wednesday will move through the area much slower both systems are about the same,” Rick said the National Weather Service measured just under a half-inch of rain at Redding Regional Airport The next system is forecast to drop between 1 inch to 1.5 inches of rain on Redding through Friday Snow levels will be around 6,000 feet before dropping to 3,500 feet to 4,500 feet by Friday There was a dusting of snow at the base of Mt The ski park typically aims to open in mid-December the week before the Christmas holiday There is another chance for rain Sunday into Monday but the system is expected to be weaker than what is coming through this week a calmer and drier stretch of weather is forecast