Shasta Lake Water Level Today

Shasta Lake (also known as Lake Shasta) is the largest reservoir in California, located at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley where the Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit rivers converge. Created by the massive Shasta Dam — a 602-foot-high concrete gravity dam completed in 1945 — the lake can store over 4.5 million acre-feet of water.

As California's largest and most important reservoir, Shasta Lake's water level is closely watched as a key indicator of the state's water supply health. The Bureau of Reclamation manages the lake as part of the Central Valley Project, providing irrigation water, hydroelectric power, flood control, and municipal water supply to millions of Californians.

During severe droughts, Shasta Lake has dropped dramatically — sometimes more than 200 feet below its full pool elevation of 1,067 feet, exposing lake bed, old mining equipment, and even the ruins of the original town of Kennett. These low-water events make national headlines and trigger water conservation mandates.

Shasta Lake is a premier houseboat destination, with over 370 miles of shoreline featuring spectacular limestone caves (Lake Shasta Caverns), dramatic bridges, and stunning mountain scenery. The lake offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, and spotted bass.

Check all California reservoir levels, view Folsom Lake water level, or browse the national dashboard.