From 2021:
Facing Dry Year, CA State Water Board is Draining California Reservoirs
CA reservoirs were designed to provide a steady five year supply for all users, and were filled to the top in June 2019
https://californiaglobe.com/fl/ca-reservoirs-filled-to-top-in-2019-being-drained-by-state/
2022
'Urgency change' will allow more water to be stored in Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake
LaMalfa said the new order allows DWR and BOR to conserve more water, reduce Delta outflow requirements for salinity, and reduce the mandatory minimum flows in the river to save water. According to LaMalfa, there had been a TUCP in place for much of the fall. LaMalfa said BOR and the DWR allowed it to lapse in January. Congressmen LaMalfa said he and representatives McCarthy, McClintock, Valadao, and Calvert had asked for this additional flexibility to be issued in February in order to store additional water during the winter months. In a news release LaMalfa said:
"I'm happy to see the state finally taking our drought conditions more seriously.The flexibility to store additional water and reduce outflows that was issued today was needed months ago when fresh water was needlessly being flushed out to the ocean unused. I have been pleading with the BOR and DWR for months to issue this order. Unfortunately, we won't be getting the wasted water back. Had the state acted in February when I and other members of Congress asked them to our state would have significantly more water now. I continue to be troubled that even now, the state continues to plan to use this "saved" water not to provide necessary drinking water, or feed our country through growing crops, but for making the rivers colder this fall for "fish flows".It's a drought, if not for the existence of man-made dams, there wouldn't be this cold water, or much of any water, this fall naturally. Why are we wasting the water we will store to artificially lower temperature by one degree when towns are having their water for personal consumption reduced and food isn't being grown to feed Americans? Even the President is warning of coming food shortages. We are facing a real crisis that will hit economically struggling rural and urban families the most. While I'm happy this action was finally taken, California really needs to look at priorities for the water we do have. I think that should mean water for people, and water for growing food. Unfortunately, the state still thinks it means water for their unsupported scientifically, environmental goals,"
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/urgency-change-will-allow-more-water-to-be-stored-in-lake-oroville-and-shasta-lake/article_