'Nature gave us a lifeline': Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashion

Following a series of winter storms that eased drought conditions across the state, Southern Californians celebrated a sight nobody has seen for several punishing years: water rushing into Diamond Valley Lake.

The massive reservoir — the largest in Southern California — was considerably drained during the state’s driest three years on record, with nearly half of the lake’s supply used to bolster minuscule allocations from state water providers.

But an extraordinarily wet winter allowed officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to turn on the taps in Hemet once again. Water transported from Northern California roared out of huge concrete valves Monday and into the blue lake at 600 cubic feet per second — marking an incredible turnaround for a region that only months ago had barely enough supplies to meet the health and safety needs of 6 million people.

“Nature gave us a lifeline in the face of climate whiplash,” said Adel Hagekhalil, MWD’s general manager, from the shore of the refilling lake. “We need to take this lifeline, replenish our resources, but continue to work and plan ahead.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-28/southern-california-refills-largest-reservoir