Climate Change Has Lake Shasta Water Disappearing Into Thin Air

By: Ben Campbell | Published: Jul 25, 2024

Researchers have sounded the alarm, warning that California’s extreme weather and drought will have dire consequences for several of its reservoirs. The effects are already being witnessed in the Golden State.

One region in particular that has been affected is Lake Shasta, which has lost hundreds of millions of gallons of water due to evaporation. The recorded breaking temperatures have exacerbated this evaporation rate, and experts are beginning to worry about the future of water in Northern California.

Heat Wave in California

In recent months, regions throughout Northern California have been struggling with the increasing temperatures in the Golden State.

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A photograph of a sunny day at Huntington Beach in California

Source: Wikimedia

In July, the Sacramento Valley reached a scorching 119 degrees, which also marked a new record for the region. Yet, this blistering temperature is nothing to be proud of, and similar incidents are occurring throughout the state.

Consequences of the Rising Temperatures

Unfortunately, a side effect of the extreme temperatures sweeping through the Golden State is the evaporation of water from California’s vital lakes, many of which serve as reservoirs.

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A photograph of a thermometer outdoors

Source: Wikimedia

Speaking on the excessive temperatures and the loss of water in reservoirs at the start of July, Don Bader, area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said, “It’s probably been higher the last nine days because we haven’t seen weather like that in a long time.”

Devastating Loss of Water in July

During the first nine days of July, nearly 3,400 cubic feet of water turned into vapor each second in California. This equates to around 2.2 billion gallons of water.

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A photograph of a dry river bed during a drought

Source: Freepik

On July 3rd alone, 288.8 million gallons of water evaporated from Lake Shasta, one of the largest reservoirs in the Golden State, leaving environmentalists and water management officials worried about the future.

Unprecedented Loss of Water at Lake Shasta

According to Bader, this is an incomprehensible amount of water. He attempts to explain the loss by suggesting that there is more than the entire amount of water currently flowing through Clear Creek just south of Redding.

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A photograph depicting the low water levels at Lake Shasta

Source: Wikimedia

“That is significant enough that it affects where our projected reservoir levels will be at the end of the season,” he said.

Higher Levels of Evaporation Expected During the Summer

While Bader admits more evaporation is expected during the warmer summer months, the current loss is unlike anything he’s ever experienced. He attributes it to the record-breaking temperatures.

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A photograph showcasing the process of water evaporation over a large lake

Source: Wikimedia

Many have begun pointing fingers at climate change for the blistering heat waves being witnessed across Northern California.

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No Sign of Cooling

Experts surmised that California could be in for a tough summer, as temperatures won’t be dropping anytime soon, according to weather forecasters.

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A photograph of the sun against a blue sky

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From July 5 through 8, daily temperature records were broken in several regions across California. For seven days beginning on July 18, temperatures are set to hit 110 degrees on average, meaning the scorching heat is set to continue in the state.

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Other Reservoirs Affected in the State

Several other reservoirs were affected by the record-breaking temperatures in Northern California.

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A photograph of Trinity Lake from Above

Source: Wikimedia

During the recent period of sweltering weather in July, the North State reservoir lost a staggering 828.5 million gallons of water due to evaporation experienced at Trinity Lake near Weaverville.

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Snow Melt Replenishes Lakes in Winter

Despite the concerning level of evaporation during summertime in California, Bader explains that it’s less of a threat during winter and spring because lakes fill up with snow melt.

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A photograph of snow melt running into a lake

Source: Wikimedia

“In the wintertime, we get the really cold days. You don’t get any evaporation because the ambient temperature is so cold, and the water’s cold,” he said.

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Researchers From Colorado University Warn Officials

The problems surrounding evaporation during particularly warm periods in California have been studied for several decades.

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A photograph of two researchers working in their lab

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Back in 2015, the University of Colorado published a study that warned officials about the consequences of water loss in reservoirs and raised concern about the prolonged periods of drought across the West.

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Ideas Centered on Reducing the Level of Evaporation

Theories on how to reduce the level of evaporation at places such as Lake Shasta have included covering a large portion of the reservoirs.

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A photograph of a researcher working at her desk

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Others have “Proposed ‘geo-engineering’ techniques for reducing reservoir evaporation include covering surface water with thin films of organic compounds, reflective plastics or extremely lightweight shades,” said the study’s authors.

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The Nature of the Problem at Hand

Another idea aims to divert “reservoir water underground into new storage areas or aquifers or to relocate or building new storage reservoirs at higher elevations where less evaporation occurs.” Yet, despite the various proposals, none have been enacted.

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In an aerial view, low water levels are visible at Shasta Lake in Redding, California.

Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Due to Lake Shasta’s immense size, which holds the record as the largest man-made lake in California, experts have explained that covering it or diverting the water underground will be a relatively challenging task.

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