Lake Natoma water level

What this means

Water is short at Lake Natoma: the latest reading of 121.90 ft is far below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 1.52 ft below the median of 123.42 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 122.19 ft (−0.29 ft).

It is still going down, by 1.25 ft over the past week. With the water still dropping, the shoreline keeps moving out. The 30-day range is 121.90 ft – 123.72 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date

123.42 ft1.52 ft below the median for this date

Normal for this date

122.53 ft – 124.11 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)

Same day last year

122.19 ft−0.29 ft

Lowest and highest in 30 days

121.90 ft – 123.72 ft

Lowest and highest in 12 months

121.18 ft – 124.91 ft