… This week, after years of advocacy and experimentation, officials at Lake Mendocino will celebrate the reservoir’s status as the first reservoir in the nation to get the go-ahead to adopt a flexible, forecast-based operations policy. The lake’s new water control manual, reliant on modern-day weather models, and notably an understanding of atmospheric rivers, gives dam managers the ability to stash additional water, which could boost reserves sometimes 20% or more when the conditions are right.

Other California reservoir news:

• CBS Sacramento (Calif.): Woodward Reservoir management deal between Stanislaus County and irrigation district to end
• Chico Enterprise-Record (Calif.): Lake Oroville’s water level is falling
• Western Water Rewind: California’s quest to turn a winter menace into a water supply bonus is gaining favor across the West