El Niño May Bring More Water to California Than Reservoirs Can Hold
Some reservoirs in parts of the state expected to experience strong El Niño impacts this year are already close to capacity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released new precipitation outlooks on Thursday, indicating that a strengthening El Niño will likely bring above-average precipitation to Southern California this winter. However, some reservoirs in the region are already near capacity, which may limit the amount of additional water that can be stored.
El Niño, a warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, has already set numerous records and is on track to become a super El Niño by this winter. As a result, the impacts of this climate pattern could significantly influence weather patterns across the globe, including in the United States. The unusually strong El Niño is expected to enhance the likelihood of a wet winter, particularly in the Southwest, including Southern California.
While this news may be welcome for a region that has struggled with a fluctuating water supply, the reservoirs in the area are already close to their maximum capacity. Major reservoirs, such as Castaic Lake, which is the largest state water project in California, are already at 95 percent capacity, 115 percent above their average levels for this time of year.
To make room for the incoming rain, reservoir managers must lower the lake's water levels, a process that typically occurs every winter. This practice allows for the safe management of high inflows and ensures that water can be released in a controlled manner when necessary, according to a spokesperson from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
Other Southern California reservoirs, such as Lake Casitas and Diamond Valley Reservoir, are also near capacity as of Friday. However, it is important to note that Diamond Valley, an off-stream reservoir, fills through pipelines rather than collecting natural runoff. Consequently, El Niño precipitation will only fill the lake if rain falls directly over the reservoir.
Reservoir operators are actively preparing for the anticipated winter precipitation by carrying out seasonal maintenance and inspections to ensure they can capture, store, and move water as conditions permit.
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