Important CA Lake Hits Record Water Levels and Boosts the Economy

From drought to flooding, aggressive storms, heat waves, and cold fronts, there’s nothing that California residents don’t have to deal with. But it’s the natural landscape that is the most affected by these extremes, and that includes California’s many lakes. 

The lake level hit a whopping 1,248 feet on April 22, and the city of Lake Elsinore is both thrilled by the influx of water into the popular lake and also concerned about the dangers it could pose to the surrounding area.

The city surrounding the lake, the City of Lake Elsinore, lives almost entirely on the tourism industry. Therefore, the lake’s water level and cleanliness are essential to their livelihoods. A spokesperson for the city, Jovanny Huerta, told the Los Angeles Times, “When the lake is thriving, the economy is thriving.”

The lake was all but dried up for most of the 1950s and then again in the 1990s. Even though the city spent millions of dollars on a built-in system to maintain the water level in 2007, Lake Elsinore has still struggled to keep sufficient water through the state-wide droughts of 2011-2017 and 2020-2022. 

But that’s not the only problem the beloved lake faces. A water level that’s too high can also cause flooding and extreme damage throughout the area, which is exactly what happened in 1980, destroying dozens of homes and businesses in the area. 

As mentioned, the current level of the lake is 1,248 feet, and the overflow mark is 1,255 feet. In fact, the water line is so high, it’s already overtaken some walking paths, beaches, and boat launches.

Officials told the press that, if necessary, they are prepared to divert overflowing water into the nearby Santa Ana River and are confident in their ability to prevent a flood.

However, there’s also a more complex answer, which is that the extreme drought, then flooding, and then drought again in California are the direct effects of climate change. 

But what many still don’t understand is that a warming planet doesn’t just mean drought, though that’s certainly a side effect; it also means extreme weather events, including severe rain storms.

As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explained, as the oceans warm, the amount of water that evaporates into the air increases. When that moisture-filled air makes its way over land, it produces intense precipitation, such as heavy rainfall and snow storms. 

Unfortunately, for California residents like those who live at or enjoy the Lake of Elsinore, that means these extreme weather patterns are their new normal. 

And that is a fun summer for the city’s residents and visitors from Los Angeles! From swimming to fishing, sunbathing, and jet skiing, Lake Elsinore’s high water levels mean tons of fun for everyone.