… For the fourth year in a row, Shasta Lake is over 90% full. At this capacity, its shoreline is longer than that of San Francisco Bay and Lake Tahoe. … Built in the 1940s, Shasta Lake and its dam are a water valve and storage tank for around 41% of the state’s supply into the Central Valley Project, the aquatic backbone of California. Water that passes through one of the highest concrete dams in the country irrigates the valley’s numerous farms before spilling out through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into San Francisco Bay. It also keeps the rivers under human control, shielding those who are downstream from major flooding. The Bureau of Reclamation manages Shasta Lake with four main priorities: store water for the Central Valley Project, generate hydroelectric power, control potential floods to protect farms and cities like Redding, and provide recreation opportunities for Californians and visitors. 

Other California reservoir news:

• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): Shasta Lake is nearly full, so why do people still think it’s empty?
• Manteca Bulletin (Calif.): SSJID pursuing $192M plan to assure water keeps flowing to farms and 215,000 people​