Lake Shasta Water Level

California · Sacramento River

996.75ft
Reading: Aug 21, 2026
70.25 ft below full pool
1042 ft1067 ft (full)
Full pool
1067 ft
Vs full pool
−70.25 ft
Managed by
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Recent high
1,064.12 ft (2023)
Recent low
882.24 ft (2021)

Water level history

Loading water level history…
Source: California Dept. of Water Resources (CDEC). Provisional data, subject to revision.

About Lake Shasta

Lake Shasta is a reservoir on the Sacramento River in California, operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It's California's largest reservoir. Its full summer pool sits at 1067 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from California's Department of Water Resources (CDEC) and update daily.

Understanding Lake Shasta's water level

"Full pool" is the elevation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation targets when Lake Shasta is completely filled — 1067 feet above sea level. Reservoirs like Lake Shasta fill from winter storms and spring snowmelt toward 1067 ft, then get drawn down through the dry season to supply cities and farms — so sitting below full pool by late summer is expected, not a warning sign.

Expect Lake Shasta to climb through winter and spring, peak around early summer, and fall through the dry summer and autumn as water is released downstream. A wet, snowy winter can raise it dramatically; a drought year can leave it low well into the next season.

The recent high and low above are drawn from the published history available for Lake Shasta, so they show how today compares over that record rather than an all-time extreme. The 12-month and 5-year chart views make the trend and the lake's usual seasonal shape easy to see.

Lake Shasta — frequently asked

What is the current water level of Lake Shasta?

The gauge at the top of this page shows Lake Shasta's current elevation in feet above sea level, updated from California's Department of Water Resources (CDEC).

What is full pool for Lake Shasta?

Lake Shasta's full summer pool is 1067 feet above sea level. Levels are typically drawn down below that in winter for flood storage.

Who manages Lake Shasta?

Lake Shasta is operated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Sacramento River.

Where is Lake Shasta located?

Lake Shasta is in California, on the Sacramento River.

Why is Lake Shasta low right now?

Reservoir levels fall during dry spells and seasonal drawdown — when U.S. Bureau of Reclamation lowers the pool for flood storage, power, or water supply — and recover after rain and snowmelt. The history chart above shows the recent trend.

What are the record high and low levels for Lake Shasta?

The recent record high and low elevations are shown in the stats on this page, computed from the available published history for Lake Shasta.

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