By looking at water levels in North State reservoirs you probably couldn't tell how dry this winter has been. "Lake Shasta is approximately 99 percent of normal for this time of the year. Lake Oroville is 107 percent. So, we're looking good as far as water supply," according to Department of Water Resources Supervisor Kevin Wright.
The problem is that the bulk of that water came from last year, and Wright says this years rain and snow totals have dropped significantly. "The amount of snow we have, and water content is much below average for this time of year. The normal February average, we're about 34 percent of that."
And if the wet season end the way it started, water levels could fall to their lowest level since 2008. A fact that hasn't escaped Bidwell Marina General Manager Bill Harper. "This year is getting a bit concerning, but we had such a great year last year that it'll hold us up a little bit this summer. Problem is, with no snow pack is that we'll go down drastically during the summer months."
And when the water levels drop, the work on the water rises. From moving 100,000 feet of cables, to relocating the 780 boats that call the marina home. Harper is holding out home the wet weather will return. "We had the miracle March's in the past, where we got 27 inches of rain. So, it's getting a little concerning, but I'm hopeful mother nature will turn it around."
Wright is also trying to stay optimistic, but says the odds of catching up to where we need to be aren't good. "It is in the realm of possibility, but not likely. The storm we just recently had here in the north valley, we would like to see every week until May."
