Atmospheric river-fueled storms that soaked California over the past week benefited the state’s water supply. In addition to providing a “much-needed boost to the statewide snowpack ,” storms increased storage in California’s major water supply reservoirs, said Michael Anderson, state climatologist with the California Department of Water Resources, by email.
Across the state, reservoir storage is well above average for this time of year, according to the Department of Water Resources. Statewide storage was 121% of average Friday, up from 115% of average a week earlier.
But California’s reservoirs aren’t just important for water supply — they’re also important for flood protection during the state’s wet season. Dam operators are increasing water releases into the weekend to create extra room in reservoirs ahead of potential precipitation…