Sonoma County is starting out the new year much differently than it did 2023 considering the amount of water it has stored. As of Tuesday, water levels in Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, the region’s main reservoirs, were at 92% and 77%, respectively, according to Sonoma Water. That’s higher than most previous years. Lake Sonoma is currently storing 234,742 acre-feet. Its storage capacity — not its overall capacity — is 381,000 acre-feet. And Lake Mendocino has 61,913 acre-feet with a storage capacity — not overall capacity — of 122,400 acre-feet. Though considered good, the storage levels are not record breaking for the time of year, said Brad Sherwood, assistant general manager of the Sonoma County water agency. The levels lag behind those recorded in 2017.