Very full Folsom Lake

[cdevine]

Took this on a run a few days ago near Browns Ravine heading toward the levy. Beats the hell out of the last few years when my kids were exploring the bottom artifacts of that place.

[Scott V]

The water is almost above the highest Granite Bay launch ramp and into the parking lot. At least that is where it was at last Thursday.

And to think, all those people whining about the flows going up and the lake getting dumped, I guess they want to flood all those houses in Granite Bay.

[cdevine]

The water is almost above the highest Granite Bay launch ramp and into the parking lot. At least that is where it was at last Thursday.

And to think, all those people whining about the flows going up and the lake getting dumped, I guess they want to flood all those houses in Granite Bay.

Its not going to matter this year about releasing too much water. This year will be a year where they actually might get a pat on the back for releasing water when they did. Flooding is more of a concern this year than too little water. We are already above normal rainfall and snow in a lot of places in Norcal and its mid January. Mammoth is on pace to set a record for snow in January and places like Tahoe City and Reno are at 100 year type #'s. We have months of winter left too.

Say goodbye to the drought.

[Mark Kranhold]

Took the dogs for a walk this evening to the lake ,it's already receding looking at driftwood line.

[JasonB]

Took the dogs for a walk this evening to the lake ,it's already receding looking at driftwood line.

I would expect them to be dropping the lake level a bit more in the next few week, as the level went up more than intended for this time of year from that last couple of storms. Given the amount of snowpack and these incoming fronts we keep getting, I don't think they will let the lake start to fill until they get a much better handle on just how much runoff we might have. This really does have the potential of being a very BIG runoff year so far. A mixed blessing really, but after the severity of the drought we've been enduring recently... I'll take it.
JB

[TyV]

"Say goodbye to the drought."

Actually, it doesn't work that way. A drought this extreme doesn't happen in a year and it can't possibly end in a single year. While reservoirs may be full and a good snow pack certainly helps a ton, the biggest impact of the drought is unseen in empty groundwater aquifers. Those will take a number of wet years like this to recharge. Until that happens, the drought will not be over. The public may think it is, but like most things the public believes, it won't be true.

No matter how much rain and snow we get this season, our drought level will still be very serious at best! Sorry to be the bearer of somewhat bad news.

[cdevine]

"Say goodbye to the drought."

Actually, it doesn't work that way. A drought this extreme doesn't happen in a year and it can't possibly end in a single year. While reservoirs may be full and a good snow pack certainly helps a ton, the biggest impact of the drought is unseen in empty groundwater aquifers. Those will take a number of wet years like this to recharge. Until that happens, the drought will not be over. The public may think it is, but like most things the public believes, it won't be true.

No matter how much rain and snow we get this season, our drought level will still be very serious at best! Sorry to be the bearer of somewhat bad news.

I get your point. I do.

I look at the state as 2. You have NorCal and SoCal.

NorCal is really lets say north of Fresno. (maybe its bakersfield)

The drought is technically over in areas north no matter how you want to look at it and the storms we get this winter will only add more of a cushion from this point forward. South of Fresno I honestly could care less about and yes the water table has been pummeled from over pumping and a slew of things like growing grapes and almonds which require more water.

Fresno/Bakersfield south is still a bad drought. But 80% of the fishing I do is in the Sierra's both western and eastern. The remaining 20% is in streams like Upper Sac, Pit, McCloud, and Lower Sac. All of these areas are in good shape. Hopefully that doesn't sound too selfish.

.

[John Sv]

I believe Bakersfield has Vons and not Safeway so therefore is SoCal. Bishop has a Vons and while it is well north, is Socal