2011–2017 California drought

Severe drought September 2026 September 2026 thumbnail|Progression of the drought from December 2013 to July 2014 The 2011–2017 California drought persisted from December 2011 to March 2017Boxall, Bettina (April 7, 2017). "Gov. Brown declares California drought emergency is over" https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220423/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-brown-drought-20170407-story.html 2018-08-07 . Los Angeles Times and consisted of the driest period in California's recorded history, late 2011 through 2014.http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=1087 California's Latest Drought January 2015 PPIC Ellen Hanak Jeffrey Mount Caitrin Chappelle 2017-02-05 2016-01-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20160129091450/http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=1087 live The drought wiped out 102 million trees from 2011 to 2016, 62 million of those during 2016 alone.http://www.livescience.com/57124-california-drought-killed-100-million-trees.html California's Long Drought Has Killed 100 Million Trees Live Sciences 7 December 2016 10 April 2017 10 April 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170410214913/http://www.livescience.com/57124-california-drought-killed-100-million-trees.html live The cause of the drought was attributed to a ridge of high pressure in the Pacific ocean—the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge"—which often barred powerful winter storms from reaching the state.http://www2.ametsoc.org/ams/assets/File/publications/BAMS_EEE_2013_Full_Report.pdf The Extraordinary California Drought of 2013/14: Character, Context, and the Role of Climate Change 2019-05-13 2015-04-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20150417091101/http://www2.ametsoc.org/ams/assets/File/publications/BAMS_EEE_2013_Full_Report.pdf dead Bond Nicholas A. Cronin Meghan F. Freeland Howard Mantua Nathan Causes and impacts of the 2014 warm anomaly in the NE Pacific Geophysical Research Letters 16 May 2015 42 9 3414–3420 10.1002/2015GL063306 free 2015GeoRL..42.3414B By February 2017, the state's drought percentage returned to lower levels seen before the start of the drought.http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/23/new-report-drought-finally-over-in-nearly-every-part-of-california/ New report: Drought finally over in nearly every part of California 23 February 2017 Mercurynews.com 17 December 2017 25 September 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170925132502/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/23/new-report-drought-finally-over-in-nearly-every-part-of-california/ live This change was due to an exceedingly wet pattern caused by atmospheric river-enhanced Pacific storms, which caused severe flooding. In mid-March 2019, California was declared drought-free except for a small pocket of abnormally dry conditions in Southern California. This declaration followed a series of powerful Pacific storms during the first few months of the year, which coincided with the U.S. experiencing drought conditions in the fewest parts of the country since 2000.https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/26/us/us-almost-drought-free-wxc/index.html The U.S. is almost drought-free, but for how long? Allie Mazurek Brandon Miller Cable News Network 26 April 2019 6 May 2019 6 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190506171642/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/26/us/us-almost-drought-free-wxc/index.html live History Southwestern North American megadrought 2013 In 2013, the total rainfall was less than 34% of what was expected. Many regions of the state accumulated less rainfall in 2013 than any other year on record. As a result of this, many fish species were threatened. Streams and rivers were so low that fish couldn't get to their spawning grounds, and survival rates of any eggs that were laid were expected to be low. Lack of rainfall had caused the mouths of rivers to be blocked off by sand bars which further prevented fish from reaching their spawning grounds. Stafford Lehr, Chief of Fisheries within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that 95% of winter run salmon did not survive in 2013.http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/fishing-ban-considered-on-american-river/24302234 Calif. bans fishing on more rivers due to drought February 5, 2014 KCRA.Com KCRA Hickey Brian May 25, 2015 May 30, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150530074534/http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/fishing-ban-considered-on-american-river/24302234 live right|thumb|Percent area in U.S. Drought Monitor categories (2014) 2014 According to the NOAA Drought Task Force report of 2014, the drought was not part of a long-term change in precipitation and was a symptom of the natural variability, although the record-high temperature that accompanied the recent drought may have been amplified due to the enhanced greenhouse effect; human-induced global warming.http://cpo.noaa.gov/ClimatePrograms/ModelingAnalysisPredictionsandProjections/MAPPTaskForces/DroughtTaskForce/CaliforniaDrought.aspx Assessment report. Causes and predictability of the 2011 to 2014 California drought Climate Program Office 2017-02-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20150925013140/http://cpo.noaa.gov/ClimatePrograms/ModelingAnalysisPredictionsandProjections/MAPPTaskForces/DroughtTaskForce/CaliforniaDrought.aspx 2015-09-25 dead This was confirmed by a 2015 scientific study which estimated that global warming "accounted for 8–27% of the observed drought anomaly in 2012–2014... Although natural variability dominates, anthropogenic warming has substantially increased the overall likelihood of extreme California droughts."Williams A. Park 2015 Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012-2014 Geophysical Research Letters 42 16 6819–6828 10.1002/2015GL064924 etal 2015GeoRL..42.6819W free thumb|Logo of the Save Our Water campaign By February 1, 2014, Felicia Marcus, the chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board, claimed the 2014 drought "is the most serious drought we've faced in modern times." Marcus argues that California needs to "conserve what little we have to use later in the year, or even in future years."https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-357485272/amid-drought-california-agency-won-t-allot-water Amid Drought, California Agency Won't Allot Water. February 1, 2014 Daily Herald Questia subscription Arlington Heights, IL 2020-10-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20201020221154/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-357485272/amid-drought-california-agency-won-t-allot-waterJuly 2021 Pritchett & Manning 2009 showed that the alkali meadow vegetation plant community is groundwater dependent and that this characteristic buffers the system from the effects of drought. This means that certain plants are actually able to help prevent droughts, but can only do so if groundwater is maintained at a certain level. One of the reasons that the study was conducted was to ascertain whether the Owens Valley region of California could handle any practiced or proposed groundwater extraction.Pritchett Daniel W. Manning Sara J. Effects of Fire and Groundwater Extraction on Alkali Meadow Habitat in Owens Valley, California Madroño 14 April 2009 56 2 89–98 10.3120/0024-9637-56.2.89 41425808 86278126 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/168933 3 June 2021 16 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200616173624/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/168933 live In February 2014, the Californian drought reached for the first time in the 54-year history of the State Water Project to shortages of water supplies. The California Department of Water Resources planned to reduce water allocations to farmland by 50%. California's 38 million residents experienced 13 consecutive months of drought. This is particularly an issue for the state's 44.7 billion dollar agricultural industry, which produces nearly half of all U.S.-grown fruits, nuts, and vegetables.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/03/california-drought-no-relief-in-sight California drought: no relief in sight, Drinking water and farming are at risk from state's ongoing drought, but forecasts offer little hope February 3, 2014 The Guardian UK July 17, 2014 November 10, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141110164123/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/03/california-drought-no-relief-in-sight live This is after the LADWP expected to increase the pumping of aquifers to about 1.36e8 m3 a year (City of Los Angeles and County of Inyo 1991) but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a sustainable pumping rate is a third lower, at around 8.64e7 m3 a year (Danskin 1998). According to NASA, tests published in January 2014 have shown that the twelve months prior to January 2014 were the driest on record, since record-keeping began in 1885.Drought Stressing California's Plantscape February 2014 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=83124 Earth Observatory, NASA 2017-02-05 2014-02-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20140222153710/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=83124 live In mid-May 2014, the US Drought Monitor analysis showed that 100% of California was already under "Severe Drought" or a higher level.https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20140520/20140520_ca_text.png U.S. Drought Monitor California Brewer Michael 22 May 2014 U.S. Drought Monitor University of Nebraska-Lincoln 23 February 2022 23 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220223154509/https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20140520/20140520_ca_text.png live The 2014 drought is considered the worst in 1,200 years.http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/californias-drought-worst-1-200-years-researchers-say-n262621 California's Drought Worst in 1,200 Years, Researchers Say Nbcnews.com 17 December 2017 12 February 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084421/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/californias-drought-worst-1-200-years-researchers-say-n262621 livehttps://time.com/3621246/california-drought-study/ California's Drought Is Now the Worst in 1,200 Years Time 17 December 2017 12 February 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170212091052/http://time.com/3621246/california-drought-study/ livehttp://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82200226/ LA Times Touch.latimes.com 17 December 2017 6 October 2012 http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006015957/http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82200226/ dead As California received additional rainfall in December 2014, this was not expected to end California's drought, and trees were at risk due to weakened roots.https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/12/10/california-storm/20187287/ California braces for fiercest storm in 5 years December 10, 2014 USA Today Rice Doyle December 11, 2014 December 10, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141210175951/http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/12/10/california-storm/20187287/ livehttp://www.weather.com/forecast/regional/news/california-rain-flood-threat-drought-relief-middec2014 California Storm: High Wind Warnings, Flood Watches, Blizzard Warnings Issued for West Coast Storm The Weather Channel Wiltgen Nick Lam Linda Erdman Jon December 11, 2014 December 11, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141211053245/http://www.weather.com/forecast/regional/news/california-rain-flood-threat-drought-relief-middec2014 live Experts also noted that due to the soil's extreme dryness and low groundwater levels, it would take significantly more rain—at least five more similar storms—to end the drought.https://www.wired.com/2014/12/california-storm-drought/ Think California's Huge Storm Will End the Drought? Think Again December 12, 2014 Wired Science Lurie Julia December 13, 2014 December 12, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141212220417/http://www.wired.com/2014/12/california-storm-drought/ livehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-11/california-would-need-five-more-deluges-to-ease-record-drought.html California Would Need Five More Super Storms to Quell Drought December 11, 2014 Bloomberg L.P. Vekshin Alison Deprez Esme E. December 13, 2014 December 13, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141213101234/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-11/california-would-need-five-more-deluges-to-ease-record-drought.html live On December 18, it was revealed that almost all of the Exceptional Drought in Northern California had been reduced to Extreme Drought severity, as a result of the winter storms that brought rain to California during December.https://www.weather.com/forecast/regional/news/washington-oregon-heavy-rain-flooding-weekend Weekend Flooding Swamps Parts of Oregon, Washington Weather.com 17 December 2017 12 February 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083209/https://weather.com/forecast/regional/news/washington-oregon-heavy-rain-flooding-weekend live thumb|Low level of Lake Isabella in Kern County thumb|A Santa Margarita Water District booth promoting water conservation In 2014, a study by the UC California Institute for Water Resources was released which found that rainfall has been abnormally high since the late 1800s.http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13274 The California drought is helping return the weather pattern to normal Warnert Jeannette E. March 27, 2014 Green Blog Regents of the University of California March 10, 2015 March 31, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150331184602/http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13274 livehttp://www.sgvtribune.com/general-news/20141220/drought-december-rainfall-breaks-records-but-california-needs-more Drought: December rainfall breaks records but California needs more Scauzillo Steve December 20, 2015 San Gabriel Valley Tribune March 10, 2015 April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091516/http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-news/20141220/drought-december-rainfall-breaks-records-but-california-needs-more livehttp://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2014/01/tundra-time-continues-california-reaches-drought-critical-phase/ Tundra Time continues, California reaches 'Drought Critical' phase Huttner Paul January 31, 2015 Minnesota Public Radio What's more, much of the state's development over the last 150 years came during an abnormally wet era, which scientists say could come to a quick end with the help of human-induced climate change. March 10, 2015 April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142700/http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2014/01/tundra-time-continues-california-reaches-drought-critical-phase/ live According to Professor Scott Stine from Cal State East Bay, California experienced its wettest period in seven thousand years during the 20th century, according to his study of tree stumps around Mono Lake, Tenaya Lake and other parts of the Sierra Nevada.http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-megadrought-20141006-story.html#page=1 In virtual mega-drought, California avoids defeat Boxall Bettina 5 October 2014 Los Angeles Times 8 April 2015 7 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150407104821/http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-megadrought-20141006-story.html#page=1 livehttp://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24993601/california-drought-past-dry-periods-have-lasted-more California drought: Past dry periods have lasted more than 200 years, scientists say Rogers Paul 25 January 2014 San Jose Mercury News 8 April 2015 14 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150414070757/http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24993601/california-drought-past-dry-periods-have-lasted-more livehttps://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/19/science/severe-ancient-droughts-a-warning-to-california.html Severe Ancient Droughts: A Warning to California Stevens William K. 19 July 1994 The New York Times 8 April 2015 15 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220915055444/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/19/science/severe-ancient-droughts-a-warning-to-california.html livehttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140214-drought-california-prehistory-science-climate-san-francisco-2/ What the West's Ancient Droughts Say About Its Future 15 February 2014 News.natrionalgeographic.com 8 April 2015 26 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150326074440/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140214-drought-california-prehistory-science-climate-san-francisco-2/ dead Stine was quoted as saying in the National Geographic Magazine, "What we have come to consider normal is profoundly wet".Kunzig Robert February 2008 Drying of the West http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2008/02/drying-west/kunzig-text National Geographic Magazine National Geographic Society 8 April 2015 23 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150323235529/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2008/02/drying-west/kunzig-text dead This view was backed by Lynn Ingram of University of California, Berkeley,http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13274 The California drought is helping return the weather pattern to normal Warnet Jeannette E. 27 March 2014 Green Blogg Regents of University of California Agricultural Experiment Station 8 April 2015 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145835/http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13274 live and Glen MacDonald of UCLA.http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/09/15/52133/california-s-drought-could-continue-for-centuries/ California's drought could continue for centuries Margolis Jacob 15 September 2016 KPCC 16 September 2015 17 September 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160917141212/http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/09/15/52133/california-s-drought-could-continue-for-centuries/ live Lack of water due to low snowpack prompted Californian governor Jerry Brown to order a series of stringent mandatory water restrictions on April 1, 2015.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-governor-orders-mandatory-water-restrictions-amid-drought/ California governor orders mandatory water restrictions amid drought April 1, 2015 FOX News, Associated Press April 1, 2015 April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402065445/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/01/california-governor-orders-mandatory-water-restrictions-amid-drought/ live Brown ordered cities and towns to reduce their water usage by 25%, which would amount in 1.5 million acre-feet of water in the nine months following the mandate in April. However, Brown's water restrictions were criticized because they were not applied to California's agricultural sector, which uses around 80% of California's developed water supply.http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/01/us/california-water-restrictions-drought/ Quick Links April 1, 2015 CNN, Associated press April 2, 2015 April 2, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402071025/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/01/us/california-water-restrictions-drought/ live The California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed dozens of streams and rivers to fishing in 2014. Lehr has said that he fears coho salmon may go completely extinct south of the Golden Gate Bridge in the near future. In early 2014 the main stems of the Eel, Mad, Smith, Van Duzen, and Mattole rivers were closed pending additional rainfall. Large areas of the Russian and American rivers were closed indefinitely.http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_25069277/california-wildlife-officials-expand-historic-fishing-ban Historic fishing ban expanded by California wildlife officials February 5, 2014 San Jose Mercury News Kinney Aaron May 25, 2015 May 30, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150530075915/http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_25069277/california-wildlife-officials-expand-historic-fishing-ban live Most rivers in San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were also closed pending further rainfall. Other actions were also taken, such as releasing more water from the Kent Dam in hopes of raising the levels in the Lagunitas Creek watershed—one of the last spawning grounds that wild coho can still reach.http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewild/fish/drought-may-already-have-killed-off-central-coast-coho-salmon.html Drought May Already Have Killed Off Central Coast Coho Salmon January 28, 2014 KCET Clarke Chris May 25, 2015 June 18, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150618120542/http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewild/fish/drought-may-already-have-killed-off-central-coast-coho-salmon.html live Protesters said that banning fishing would disrupt the economy and threaten the livelihoods of individuals who rely on salmon fishing during the winters. Officials, however, highlighted that it would help prevent species that are already in trouble from slipping to extinction. 2015 thumb|Folsom Lake reservoir in 2015 In May 2015, a state resident poll conducted by Field Poll found that two out of three respondents agreed that it should be mandated for water agencies to reduce water consumption by 25%.https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-drought-People-support-water-6271681.php California drought: People support water conservation, in theory Alexander Kurtis 19 May 2015 SF Gate 20 May 2015 24 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200824032931/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-drought-People-support-water-6271681.php live The 2015 prediction of El Niño to bring rains to California raised hopes of ending the drought. In the spring of 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration named the probability of the presence of El Niño conditions until the end of 2015 at 80%. Historically, sixteen winters between 1951 and 2015 had created El Niño. Six of those had below-average rainfall, five had average rainfall, and five had above-average rainfall. However, as of May 2015, drought conditions had worsened and above average ocean temperatures had not resulted in large storms.http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_28116837/california-drought-el-nino-conditions-strengthening-but-dont California drought: El Niño conditions strengthening, but don't break out the galoshes yet Rogers Paul 14 May 2015 San Jose Mercury News 20 May 2015 1 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160201085554/http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_28116837/california-drought-el-nino-conditions-strengthening-but-dont live The drought led to Governor Jerry Brown's instituting mandatory 25 percent water restrictions in June 2015.https://news.usc.edu/82464/the-california-drought-what-would-you-ask-gov-jerry-brown/ The California drought: What would you ask Gov. Jerry Brown? 8 June 2015 USC News 10 June 2015 30 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160130104451/https://news.usc.edu/82464/the-california-drought-what-would-you-ask-gov-jerry-brown/ live In response to heightening drought conditions, California tightened fishing restrictions in many areas of the state. Streams and rivers on the northern coast had unprecedented amounts of fishing bans. In February 2015, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to further tighten regulations on both recreational and commercial fishing, and the U.S. Endangered Species Act listed steelhead as threatened and coho salmon as endangered. 2016 Many millions of California trees died from the drought—approximately 102 million, including 62 million in 2016 alone.http://www.fs.fed.us/news/releases/new-aerial-survey-identifies-more-100-million-dead-trees-california New Aerial Survey Identifies More Than 100 Million Dead Trees in California 2016-11-18 USDA/U.S. Forest Service USDA Office of Communications 22 November 2016 2016-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20161122071603/http://www.fs.fed.us/news/releases/new-aerial-survey-identifies-more-100-million-dead-trees-california live By the end of 2016, 30% of California had emerged from the drought, mainly in the northern half of the state, while 40% of the state remained in the extreme or exceptional drought levels.http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA U.S. Drought Monitor California unl.edu 2016-12-26 USDA Brad Rippey 28 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161227210302/http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA 2016-12-27 dead 2017 2017 California floods thumb|Dried lakebed in Novato around the end of the 2011-2017 California drought Heavy rains in January 2017 had significant benefit to the state's northern water reserves, despite widespread power outages and erosion damage in the wake of the deluge.http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/09/california-storms-fill-drought-parched-reservoirs/ California storms add 350 billion gallons to parched reservoirs January 9, 2017 The Mercury News (San Jose) Bay Area News Group rogers Paul 10 January 2017 10 January 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170110135641/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/09/california-storms-fill-drought-parched-reservoirs/ live Among the casualties of the rain was the 1,000 year-old Pioneer Cabin Tree in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, which toppled on January 8, 2017.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/09/winter-storm-fells-one-of-calif-s-iconic-drive-through-tunnel-trees-carved-in-the-1880s/ Morning Mix: Winter storm fells one of California's iconic drive-through tunnel trees, carved in the 1880s January 9, 2017 The Washington Post Travis M. Andrews January 10, 2017 January 9, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170109184458/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/09/winter-storm-fells-one-of-calif-s-iconic-drive-through-tunnel-trees-carved-in-the-1880s/ live The drought was largely alleviated in California by a persistent weather pattern that allowed rounds of storm systems to consistently hammer the state, with the snowpack rising to well above average. By January 24, 2017, not one portion of the state was in "Exceptional" drought, the highest category on the Drought Monitor. On February 21, no part of the state was in the next-lower category of "Extreme" drought, and over 60% of the state's area was no longer in any level of drought. A record year of precipitation in California brought the state out of the bad situation and more or less back to equilibrium. Unexpectedly, this occurred during a La Niña winter; California typically benefits from the El Niño winters, which were occurring in the recent previous years.Di Liberto Tom Very wet 2017 water year ends in California https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/very-wet-2017-water-year-ends-california Climate.gov National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 7, 2018 September 8, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015801/https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/very-wet-2017-water-year-ends-california dead On April 7, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown declared the drought over.Associated Press California's drought is officially over, Gov. Jerry Brown says CBS News 2017-04-07 2017-04-16 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-gov-jerry-brown-declares-an-end-to-drought/ 2017-04-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20170417070803/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-gov-jerry-brown-declares-an-end-to-drought/ live However, according to the United States Drought Monitor, the state was not entirely drought-free until March 12, 2019.https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/services/data/summary/html/usdm_summary_20190319.html National Drought Summary -- March 19, 2019 United States Drought Monitor March 21, 2019 March 21, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190321175412/https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/services/data/summary/html/usdm_summary_20190319.html live The 2020–2023 drought began the next year. Mitigation Beginning in 2008, millions of floating plastic shade balls were dropped on reservoirs to prevent evaporative losses and enhance water quality.http://www.discovery.com/dscovrd/tech/millions-of-shade-balls-to-prevent-evaporation-in-california-reservoirs/ Millions of Shade Balls to Prevent Evaporation in California Reservoirs 2017-02-05 2017-01-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20170106192324/http://www.discovery.com/dscovrd/tech/millions-of-shade-balls-to-prevent-evaporation-in-california-reservoirs/ liveMarco Chown Oved, "Shade Balls: Just Ad Water. Toronto Star, October 23, 2016 An instance of this was performed on the Los Angeles reservoir in 2014. The shade balls were supposed to be the most cost-effective way to cover the body of water amongst all the available options. One of the concerns with this method, however, was the amount of water required to make the shade balls themselves. Scientists determined that the amount of time that the shade balls need to be deployed for the water costs in production to be balanced is between one and two and a half years.Grennel Amanda Why 96 million plastic 'shade balls' dumped into the LA Reservoir may not save water https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-96-million-plastic-shade-balls-dumped-into-the-la-reservoir-may-not-save-water PBS NewsHour 16 July 2018 PBS September 6, 2018 6 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180906104818/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-96-million-plastic-shade-balls-dumped-into-the-la-reservoir-may-not-save-water live In 2018 the PBS News Hour reviewed the use of the balls, stating that since their deployment in 2014 the shade balls should have surpassed their water cost in the water they have saved. Long-term mitigation Voters' approval of the Proposition 1 water bond in 2014 has been interpreted as an eagerness to add flexibility to California's water system.http://www.agalert.com/story/?id=9354 Commentary: Lessons of 1986 floods continue to reverberate Agalert.com 17 December 2017 8 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015828/http://www.agalert.com/story/?id=9354 live The 2014 Proposition 1 allocated almost 8 million dollars towards various projects related to the conservation and quality of California's water. The money was supposed to be divided into various categories to distribute the improvement of the state's entire water system. Four years after this passed, only about 80 percent of the budget has been spent on the improvements laid out in the bill.Evans Ian Three Years on, How California Is Spending Its $7.5 Billion Water Bond https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2017/12/29/three-years-on-how-california-is-spending-its-7-5-billion-water-bond Water Deeply News Deeply September 6, 2018 September 8, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180908054254/https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2017/12/29/three-years-on-how-california-is-spending-its-7-5-billion-water-bond live In early 2016, Los Angeles County began a proactive cloud-seeding program.Reynard Loki, Conspiracy Theories Rain Down https://web.archive.org/web/20161229085306/http://www.salon.com/2016/03/24/conspiracy_theories_rain_down_california_cloud_seeding_project_brings_out_the_truthers/ 2016-12-29 , Salon Magazine, March 24, 2016 Cloud-seeding is the process of emitting specific chemicals into the sky usually from the ground or a plane. This is supposed to create an environment with increased rainfall given certain prerequisite weather conditions. Even though many Americans find this process to be almost superstitious, there is science to support its legitimacy. However, rainfall studies have shown rainfall to improve by around 5 to 15 percent in optimal weather conditions.Krier Robert Seeding clouds: Does it bear fruit? http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sdut-cloud-seeding-2016mar05-story.html The San Diego Tribune 5 March 2016 The San Diego Tribune September 6, 2018 8 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015831/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sdut-cloud-seeding-2016mar05-story.html live The issue at hand is whether or not the cost of the operation is worth it with the amount of improvement and the reliability. As of June 2023, California's Department of Water Resources (DWR) has awarded over $70 million in an attempt to mitigate and help with local drought impacts as well as $217 million awarded to 44 projects that aim to help strengthen and prepare communities to be more resilient and prepared for the impacts of long term drought.2023-06-08 California Announces $288 Million for Drought and Flood Projects https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/06/08/california-announces-288-million-for-drought-and-flood-projects/ 2024-03-12 California Governor en See also Weather California 2012–2013 North American drought 2020–2023 North American drought Droughts in California Climate change in California North Pacific High References Category:Droughts in the United States California California California California California California California 2011-2017 Drought