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Lakes → California → Shasta Lake

Shasta Lake

California · Reservoir impounded 1945 · near Redding

29,500 acres 517 ft deep 20 ft clarity Water C

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6.8SCORE

Survey summary · California

29,500

Surface acres

517 ft

Max depth

365 mi

Shoreline

20 ft

Typical clarity

1,067 ft

Elevation

Shasta Lake covers 29,500 acres in California and drops to 517 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1945 and managed by Bureau of Reclamation. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 90 feet, typically drawn down in autumn. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Short-term rental posture: Allowed; county permit. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Deep water — 517 ft max
Houseboating
Fishing

Watch outs

Seasonal drawdown near 90 ft — verify dock reach at low pool
Multi-year level volatility; review historical pool elevation before buying

Score breakdown

Water 6.3

Recreation 7.2

Value 5.8

Access 7.3

Investment 7.4

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

BassTroutSalmonCatfish

On the water

HouseboatingFishingBoatingWaterfall hikes

Nearest station: MCCLOUD R AB SHASTA LK CA. This is a stream gauge on connected water, not a gauge on the lake itself. It responds to storms and dam releases, so read it as a signal about the system — not as the lake's surface elevation.

15.06 ft

Gage height

2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Shasta Lake

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 90 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 50 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 647 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 517 ft, average 165 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityVolatile Typical drawdown90 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity20 ft Water quality gradeC Elevation1,067 ft Managing authorityBureau of Reclamation

This lake moves. A drawdown near 90 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline. Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityUSFS Shasta-Trinity Wake / speed rulesOpen water

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with USFS Shasta-Trinity that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Allowed; county permit

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$840,000

Median waterfront

$2,023

Per shoreline foot

+6.5%

Year over year

Est. inventory

135

Avg days on market

$431

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy56% Booked nights / yr147 Gross revenue$71,938 Net operating income$33,916 Yield on median price4.04%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Shasta Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$6,932

All-in per month

$191,410

Cash to close + setup

$17,730

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $53,110 (65%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $9,240 (11%) Property taxes $8,820 (11%) Hazard insurance $3,528 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Flood insurance $2,400 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$53,110
Property taxes	$8,820
Hazard insurance	$3,528
Flood insurance	$2,400
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$9,240
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$83,188

Model your own numbers →

4.5 / 5 from 2 reviews

Best family lake we found

Bill T. · Spring 2026

5/5

We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.

Great water, know the drawdown

D. Okonkwo · Owner on the lake · Summer 2026

4/5

Beautiful clear water and the fishing is genuinely good. Be aware the level drops in the fall and our dock needed a longer walkway than we budgeted for. Not a dealbreaker, just plan for it.