Why Shasta Lake is nearly full but Trinity Dam’s water level is so low
While Lake Shasta is brimming with water, Trinity Lake is less than half full. There are several reasons why that happened this year, according to the Bureau of Reclamation, and why the situation at Trinity Dam may not be as dire as it sounds. Winter rainstorms filled Lake Shasta to 98% of its capacity, 116% of its historic average for this time of year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. The water level at the dam is lapping a little more than three feet from the top, Bureau of Reclamation Area Manager Donald Bader said.