Shasta Lake is a large Central Valley Project reservoir in northern California at the confluence of the Sacramento, Pit, and McCloud rivers. Completed in 1945 behind Shasta Dam, the lake covers approximately 29,500 acres. It is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a cornerstone of the Central Valley Project for water supply, flood control, hydropower, and recreation.

With about 365 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth near 517 feet, Shasta offers an extensive mix of steep canyon arms, broad open basins, points, and long riverine channels. Depth and bottom composition change sharply between deep main-lake water and shallower tributary arms, creating diverse habitat for boaters and anglers. The three-river confluence and deep storage pool make the basin one of the most vertically and geographically varied reservoirs in California.

Shasta Lake is a major destination for recreational boating, houseboating, and sport fishing, with public ramps, marinas, and recreation areas distributed along the arms and main pool. Fisheries and boating regulations are supported by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Access is oriented around developed recreation sites and shoreline communities that serve visitors from across northern California and beyond.

Reclamation operates Shasta within the Central Valley Project to balance storage, flood space, power generation, and downstream water management. Full pool is published near 1,067 feet NAVD88; seasonal runoff, project deliveries, and flood-control requirements move the lake through a wide elevation range. Monitoring levels is important for navigation in the arms, ramp and marina usability, fishing patterns, and shoreline access as the pool rises and falls.

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