Drought

The recent heavy rains across California have not ended concerns about a possible water shortage. 

The new legislation, which is now awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, would double daily fines for water rights holders who commit minor violations. Those violating curtailment orders could face fines of up to $10,000 per day — a 20-fold increase — plus $2,500 for every acre-foot of water taken.

California is moving forward with a plan to build the state's largest new reservoir in 50 years.

While intense snow and rain can be a serious challenge, the ⁠⁠silver lining is the color of abundant clear, clean water.

As we enter the critical rainy months of December through March, we find ourselves in two unusual and conflicting situations: lack of water and an abundance of it.

California is 100% drought free for the first time in over three years, according to the California Drought Monitor.

Dramatic photos of California's big spring melt show waterfalls gushing and reservoirs filled to the brim. And there's more to come as the eastern Sierra saw another dumping of snow this week.

California has offered reduce its water use from the Colorado River, Lake Mead, and Lake Powell. In an agreement with Arizona and Nevada, the Golden State will cut roughly 10% of its current water allocation.

This winter’s historic precipitation and the wet spring so far have left California's reservoir levels healthy for the first time in many years, the California Department of Water Resources reported. 

California will provide 100% of the water requested by cities and farms for the first time in years thanks to winter storms that filled reservoirs and runoff from a record snowpack, regulators announced Thursday.

Water companies across California are beginning to loosen drought restrictions as reservoir levels rise. 

Water levels fell so low in key reservoirs during the depth of California’s drought that boat docks sat on dry, cracked land and cars drove into the center of what should have been Folsom Lake.

After a long series of winter storms, California's snowpack has tied the all-time record set more than 70 years ago, official measurements show.

East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) announced on Tuesday they are making adjustments to its emergency drought regulations and that they expect reservoirs to fully refill. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended some of the state’s water restrictions on Friday because a winter of relentless rain and snow has replenished the state’s reservoirs and eased fears of a shortage after three years of severe drought.

While an abundance of water is making its way into California reservoirs, federal, state and local dam operators are worried about two uncontrollable things: more atmospheric rivers and a quick melt of the snowpack in the mountains. 

The Pajaro levee break was no surprise and officials know it was weak and vulnerable to high, fast water flows. 

The latest California drought report shows the Bay Area is nearly drought free. With even more rain headed our way, the U.S. Drought Monitor says 99% of the Bay Area is out of the drought.