Despite Historic Rainfall, Trinity Lake Remains Dreadfully Low. Here’s Why.
As of April 1st, most reservoirs in California are at, over, or near their historical average capacity. But there’s a glaring exception: Trinity Lake, situated in the far north of California. According to the Department of Water Resources, Trinity Lake is only at 51% of its historical average capacity and 37% of capacity overall.
Why is Trinity Lake filling at a slower rate than other reservoirs? Jeffrey Mount, Senior Fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center, believes that the state’s northernmost region has received less rainfall relative to other parts. Furthermore, Trinity Lake relies heavily on snowpack for water, unlike Shasta, which mostly depends on rainfall. Much of the snowfall may not melt and flow into the reservoir until late spring or summer.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reveals that the northernmost parts of California, including Siskiyou, Modoc, Lassen, Shasta, and Trinity counties, still experience “moderate drought” conditions, with interior parts remaining “abnormally dry.” While Governor Gavin Newsom rolled back some drought restrictions, he didn’t revoke the drought emergency proclamation due to persistent dryness in specific regions.
These dry areas tend to be naturally arid. The northeast corner of California is a known rain shadow, while the southeast – where drought also persists – is desert. The southeast corner receives most of its precipitation from summer monsoon rains rather than winter storms. Inyo, San Bernardino, Imperial, and Riverside counties remain in “moderate drought,” with parts of Inyo and San Bernardino experiencing “severe drought.”
The atmospheric rivers that hit California since December have primarily focused on the Bay Area and Central Coast, with some reaching the Los Angeles region. However, few have been directed at the Klamath Basin, where Trinity Lake is located. This year, most atmospheric rivers have shifted a couple of hundred miles south, leaving the far north less wet than usual.
While some areas of California may no longer be classified as being in a drought, they will still face long-term water supply problems. The Drought Monitor may not accurately reflect California’s situation, as it doesn’t account for groundwater conditions and the state’s water transportation. As Jay Lund, Vice Director of the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, points out, “water scarcity is enduring.” Groundwater recovery in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys may take years, and the Klamath Basin still faces ongoing water use conflicts between agriculture and ecosystem preservation.
As it stands, a single wet year won’t be enough to compensate for the cumulative loss of precipitation experienced since 1997. It will take more than one wet year to truly break free from the drought’s grasp and its impact on ecosystems and water systems.
