Photographer captures stark gains California reservoirs have made during relentless atmospheric river storms
Photographer Josh Edelson has been documenting the reversal of fortune of California's Lake Oroville, first capturing water levels at historic lows in the heart of the drought in 2021. He returned this year to the same spots to illustrate the radical rise in water levels.
Photojournalist reveals how California's reservoirs were replenished by atmospheric rivers
California photojournalist Josh Edelson captured stunning images of Lake Oroville before and after the extremely wet winter of 2023. Edelson noted that California's reservoirs were bordering on empty in 2021 compared to this spring when water was released from reservoirs in preparation for more rain.
NOVATO, Calif. – Just two years ago, several of California's reservoirs looked like they were on their last legs, with water levels so low many appeared they were in danger of running dry.
But after dozens of atmospheric river storms pummeled the state with heavy rain and mountain snow measured in dozens of feet earlier this year, the state's reservoirs have made a dramatic turnaround.
RIDICULOUS PHOTOS SHOW AFTERMATH OF 12 FEET OF SNOW IN CALIFORNIA'S SIERRA NEVADA
Photographer Josh Edelson has been documenting the reversal of fortune at California's Lake Oroville, first capturing water levels at historic lows in the heart of the drought in September 2021. He returned this April to the same spots to illustrate the radical rise in water levels.
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 1 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, boats are parked on Lake Oroville near the Bidwell Bar Bridge in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top) and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 2 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows a boat ramp completely out of the water at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top) and completely submerged on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 3 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top), and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 4 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows a burned property in front of low water levels at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top), and the same area on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 5 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows the Enterprise Bridge at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California on September 05, 2021 (top), and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 6 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows a car crossing the Enterprise Bridge at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top), and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 7 of 8This combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows houseboats parked at a marina at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top) and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. ( (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![California's Lake Oroville Levels]()
Image 8 of 8This aerial combination photo created on April 17, 2023, shows a car crossing the Enterprise Bridge at Lake Oroville in Oroville, California, on September 05, 2021 (top), and on April 16, 2023 (below). - A very wet winter has left California's reservoirs looking healthier than they have for years, as near-record rainfall put a big dent in a lengthy drought. A series of atmospheric rivers -- high altitude ribbons of moisture -- chugged into the western United States, dousing a landscape that had been baked dry by years of below-average rain. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
"In 2021, we had some of the worst drought we've had in California, so these reservoirs were extremely low and, in many cases, bordering on empty in some sections," Edelson told FOX Weather. "So going from 2021 to 2023, it's obviously a stark contrast."
After one of the driest years on record, the parade of storms with a tropical connection hit hard starting Dec. 22, and more than a dozen potent atmospheric river storms would slam into the state over the next several weeks.
(FOX Weather)
Over one three-week period alone from late December to Jan. 19, FOX Weather meteorologists calculated 32 trillion gallons of water fell in the state.
RELENTLESS CALIFORNIA ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS DROP 32 TRILLION GALLONS OF WATER OVER 3 WEEKS
"These atmospheric rivers brought a huge amount of rain, and the reservoirs just couldn't hold the amount of rain coming in," Edleson said. "They've been actually releasing water to make room for what's expected to be another deluge of snowmelt that's up in the Sierra (Nevada). So even though the reservoirs are full now or close to full, they're trying to make room because there's more water coming."
And Edelson marveled at the speed of the turnaround.
"We have droughts and floods kind of happening so close together that it takes a while for some areas to adapt," he said. "There are farmers that just lost crops due to the drought, and now their crops are completely underwater."
DROUGHT MARCHES ON FOR PARTS OF CALIFORNIA DESPITE HISTORIC RAINFALL, SNOW
California is now heading into its dry season, and already, hot, dry weather is in the forecast for the weekend, with temperatures forecast to approach triple digits in the inland valleys.