Before and After: California’s Lake Shasta Water Level on the Rise

Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California, has continued to make headlines. The lake’s water levels are nearing capacity again, thanks to additional storms since January 2026 saturation, which created a steady level increase not seen since 2011. Right now, the reservoir is at a mere 14 feet from full.

While the arid summer months ahead are expected to drop the current level, the overall streak has been quite an impressive and dramatic change. Especially when looking at the timeline of the drought-riddled lake beginning in 2021, a timeframe that included measurements of 38% capacity.