Photos: Drone views of EBMUD reservoirs as California faces extreme drought

By Jane Tyska | jtyska@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: July 27, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 29, 2021 at 6:02 p.m.

IONE, CA - JULY 22: The Pardee Lake Recreation marina is seen from this drone new at the Pardee Reservoir in Ione, Calif., on Thursday, July 22, 2021. The lake, which is usually full, is at 87% capacity and the marina had to be moved to deeper waters last month. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) — IONE, CA – JULY 22: The Pardee Lake Recreation marina is seen from this drone new at the Pardee Reservoir in Ione, Calif., on Thursday, July 22, 2021. The lake, which is usually full, is at 87% capacity and the marina had to be moved to deeper waters last month. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

After a very dry winter and spring, all of California is now in some level of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. One year ago, just 58 percent of California was in drought.

In the East Bay, the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s reservoirs total system capacity is currently at 61% full, which is 73% of average. The district is in decent shape for now, but is encouraging its customers to conserve water as much as possible. The Upper San Leandro Reservoir (63% full) and the Briones (93% full) and San Pablo Reservoirs (55% full) are fed from the Pardee Reservoir (87% full) in Calaveras County, which provides 90% of EBMUD water. From Pardee, the water travels 95 miles through the Mokelumne Aqueduct to the East Bay, where it’s treated and stored until needed, serving 35 municipalities and 1.4 million customers.

“We keep it as full as possible to maintain our water supply,” said EBMUD spokeswoman Andrea Pook about Pardee.

Camanche Reservoir, just to the south of Pardee Reservoir, (44% full) is also operated by EBMUD and used for flood control and downstream water rights holders.

EBMUD has worked for decades to diversify its water sources, and if the drought gets worse next year, the district will look at purchasing water from other entities.

The water district serves an urban area, and does not provide water for agriculture. It relies heavily on conservation and recycled water for irrigation and industrial processes.

“We don’t have great long-term water supply forecast tools. You just have to be prepared for anything,” Pook said. “We do our best to plan ahead through climate change and regulatory change.”

Pardee Lake Recreation Manager Tammy Hoyt said that the reservoir is losing approximately 2-3 inches per day. The lake’s staff moved the marina from its regular site in the beginning of June as the water was getting too low to dock boats there.

There is currently only about 10 feet of water by the boat launch ramp, which may not be able to be used if the drought keeps up and the water level drops.

“Being this early in summer, this is just not a good sign. It’s terrible,” Hoyt said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom asked California residents this month to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%. EBMUD is not yet mandating cutbacks, but so far seeking voluntary reductions.

Here are some tips to conserve.

Pardee Reservoir