Fill it Up: Lake Tahoe now 1.67 feet above natural rim, highest January since 2013
Lake Tahoe is filling up and is currently holding the most water for the month of January since 2013, according to BLM and USGS hydrology reports.
With a natural rim of 6223 feet in altitude, Lake Tahoe is above that by 1.67 feet at 6224.67 today, January 15, 2017. On this date in 2016, the lake was almost three feet lower at 6221.7. The highest January point in the past six years was in 2012 when the lake was at 6226.62. The highest point during this period was on June 5, 2012 when the elevation of the lake was 6227.65.
This past fall, during a two days of heavy rains, Lake Tahoe reached 6225.26 and with the possibility of another atmospheric river heading to the Sierra next week, it is possible the lake could reach that level again.
The Bureau of Reclamation's Lahontan Basin Area Office in Carson City, Nev., is responsible for operating and maintaining the dam at Tahoe City.
Water can be stored in Lake Tahoe until it reaches an elevation of 6229.1 feet. At this point the Lahontan Basin office will open the dam gates to release water into the Truckee River. They will also release water during the season to insure the dam is able to control the elevation rises.
Even when looking at a big water year like 2012, the most Lake Tahoe has held was in 2011 was the biggest since 2008, the year data is available electronically from USGS. The lake never reached flood levels in 2011 though it got close and within one-half foot of mandatory opening of the flood gates.
In the chart from USGS in this story, the "Gage Height" is how many feet above 6220 feet the lake level is recorded.
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