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Stunning before and after photos of California reservoirs show impact of winter storms

Aerial images showing a contrast of water levels in Oroville, Calif that includes photos of houseboats on Lake Oroville on April 27, 2021 (upper left) and February 14, 2023 following significant rainfall (bottom left). A drone photo shows Enterprise Bridge over a section of the lake on July 22, 2021 (upper right) and February 14, 2023 (bottom right). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Two months of torrential downpours, atmospheric rivers and snowstorms have doused California with much-needed rainfall. Now, reservoirs across the drought-prone state are filling with rainfall, and many are nearing or exceeding historic levels, according to data first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

California is home to a massive system of water reservoirs, which provide roughly 60% of the state’s total water supply in a given year. The other share comes from groundwater.

Winter is a particularly important time for these water reservoirs, as the higher levels of precipitation seen between November and March serve as a buffer for the state’s traditionally dry summer months.

Many reservoirs across the state have surpassed their average storage capacities, a phenomenon that is primarily affecting reservoirs in California’s Central Valley. Oroville, for example, is one of California’s largest water reservoirs and is currently holding more water than its historic average for this time of year.

Now, half of California is drought-free due to the rainfall and snow, the Associated Press reports. Snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada region provide roughly one-third of the state’s water supply, and these snowpacks are more than 160% of the historical average on April 1.

Climate experts caution that the recent snowfall, precipitation and filling water reservoirs may not result in the end of California’s decadeslong mega-drought.

READ MORE: 9 Incredible Photos of California’s Historic Winter Storm

Check out these photos to see how water reservoirs look before and after this winter’s historic precipitation.

Aerial images shows contrasting water levels at Lake Oroville on July 22, 2021 (top), and Feb. 14, 2023 (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
These images show the contrasting water levels at Lake Oroville in April 2021 (top) and on Feb. 14, 2023, following significant rainfall (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this before-and-after composite image, water levels are compared at Nicasio Reservoir in Nicasio on April 23, 2021 (top), and from the same vantage point on Jan. 12, 2023 (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this before-and-after composite image, water levels are compared at Lake Oroville on April 27, 2021 (top), and at the same location on Feb. 14, 2023 (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this before-and-after composite image, water levels are compared at Lake Oroville—showing houseboats on the banks of the lake on April 27, 2021 (top), and houseboats anchored at the same location on Feb. 14, 2023 (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In this before-and-after composite image, water levels are compared at Nicasio Reservoir in Nicasio on April 23, 2021 (top), and from the same vantage point on Jan. 12, 2023 (bottom). | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images