California's Largest Reservoirs Still Well Below Average
LAKE OROVILLE (CBS SF) -- California's largest reservoirs act as a report card for water officials, and unfortunately the grades aren't very high right now.
"Looking at that graph is a good snapshot of how they're looking, and they're not looking so good right now," Doug Carlson with the California Department of Water Resources said.
Rainfall totals and snowpack levels can make it difficult to figure out exactly how the state is fairing against the drought.
"All in all, we are far below where we should be," Carlson said.
One of the best indicators of how the state is doing is Lake Oroville in Butte County – the second largest reservoir in California. As of today, it's about 25 percent below average.
And, some of the numbers get worse as you move south.
The New Melones Reservoir in Calaveras County is about 70 percent below average.
"A lot of newspaper and television reports were made about how El Niño was going to save us. It hasn't happened," Carlson said.
Many water officials are hoping for a "Miracle March" to help end the state's drought.
