Reservoirs nearly full, yet safe, as more rain, snowmelt on way

District managers say conservation still will be a necessity after the storms

After 11 atmospheric rivers and counting this winter, reservoirs that supply water to the East Bay are nearly brimming.

But despite concerns about capacity in other parts of the state during the current storms, water managers in the East Bay say local reservoirs are safe. According to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), their total storage is currently at 87%.

“That's perfect. It means we have room in the reservoirs for the storm that's coming in right now, and we're creating space for the snowmelt,” said Andrea Pook, a spokesperson for EBMUD.

So far, the storms have been beneficial to East Bay watersheds, which have mainly

avoided the types of catastrophic flooding that has wracked parts of the South Bay and Monterey County. But even with the torrential rains over the last months, Pook warned

that the region's long-term water problems are far from over.

“These last few years, it feels like records are being broken all the time.” Pook said. “We have the driest February through

March on record, then wet years — so we always need to be smart about how we're using water.”

During the past half-decade of drought, Pook said there were times EBMUD was forced to bring in supplemental water to supply their 1.4 million customers across much of Alameda and parts of Contra Costa County. Though customers conserved 30,000 acre-feet of water in 2021 alone, the utility district was forced to impose a drought surcharge in 2022.

This year has swung to the other extreme fast enough to give water watchers whiplash. Camanche Reservoir, which is located near Stockton in the foothills of the Sierra and provides much of the water supply for East Bay cities, has received 62 inches of rain—nearly 50 % higher than an average year.

More rain is forecast for next

week, and drought conditions have improved across much of the state.

The district's drought surcharge was lifted on March 1.

Still, as climate change contributes to temperature and precipitation extremes, Pook is continuing to preach the conservation

mindset.

“We know we live in a mediterranean climate and it's dry,” Pook said. “The message of conservation as a way of life is true, and we will be definitely focusing on that going forward.”

PHOTOS: JANE TYSKA — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Froese takes advantage of a break in the storms as he walks at the Lafayette Reservoir in Lafayette on Tuesday. Easy Bay officials say the reservoirs are at 87% capacity but still will be able to handle more water from future heavy rains and melting snow.

The Lafayette Reservoir is among the many in Northern California that have been replenished with water because of a wet winter.