Will California’s ‘atmospheric river’ storms end the drought?
For the past three years, California has been suffering under the worst drought in state history. Key reservoirs have bottomed out, farmers have left their fields unplanted, and cities have forced residents to let their lawns go brown. Now the state’s weather has taken a violent swing in the other direction. A series of powerful “atmospheric river” storms … have brought record-breaking precipitation to the Golden State over the last two weeks…. Even if 2023 does end up a wet year, it won’t prevent an ongoing water crisis, because surface precipitation is only one pillar supporting the state’s water needs. … And the other two pillars ensuring regular water availability in the Golden State — groundwater and the Colorado River — are facing crises that even a wet year won’t fix.
Related articles:
- Los Angeles Times: Editorial: The drought is over now, right? (Spoiler alert: No)
- ABC 7 – Los Angeles: With all this rain, is California still in a drought?
- Bureau of Reclamation: Reclamation announces the availability of Section 215 water for American River Division
- Bakersfield Californian: Drought watchers ‘guardedly optimistic’ as rain and snow levels soar
- Newsweek: California Drought: Is Current Rain Helping State Reservoir Water Levels?
- Pasadena Star-News: Editorial: Recent flooding shows the need for water storage
- Manteca Bulletin: Opinion: Those who forget California water history are doomed to repeat it