But patterns of drought suggest it won’t last for long.
In a proclamation given at the end of March, Gov. Jerry Brown announced that California’s drought was over but still urged conservation. The proclamation rescinded a 2008 order by then Gov. Schwarzenegger declaring a drought and ends a state of emergency called for in the same year. This follows the results from a snow survey conducted by the California Department of Water Resources, which found snowpack is 165% of the season average. It also follows news that many reservoirs in the state have surpassed their average levels and that the State Water Project is likely to deliver more than 70% of allocations this year. This has led some to question if California even had a drought, because the last four years during which the drought was declared have largely reflected normal weather patterns in the state.
Brown’s message did not comment on the validity of the drought years but did call on Californians not to abandon thrifty water habits.
In a press release Brown said, “While this season’s storms have lifted us out of the drought, it’s critical that Californians continue to watch their water use. Drought or no drought, demand for water in California always outstrips supply. Continued conservation is key.” Brown’s words hit at the heart of the problem in California. When issues of water scarcity come up, some blame them on low rainfall or bad weather for the shortages. But California is facing the reality that there simply may not be enough water to go around, even during times of peak rainfall.
According to information from the state’s drought website that was taken down earlier this week, the pattern of dry then wet spells is relatively normal in California. In a section called “Past Droughts,” the Department of Water Resources explains California’s history of precipitation. “Droughts exceeding three years are relatively rare in Northern California, the source of much of the state’s developed water supply.” According to the website, droughts occur fairly regularly in the state, with major ones occurring three times in the last hundred years.
Those droughts stated in 1929, 1976 and 1987 and the department lists 1977 as the driest year on record, but an examination of the data shows that this, too, is part of a cycle. Data from the Western Regional Climate Center shows that the years leading up to and after 1977 showed above-average rainfall continuing in California’s pattern of peaks and valleys.
According to the Department of Water Resources, due to increased demand from environmental restoration, cutbacks and population growth have made the state’s water problems worse. When the state emerged from its last major drought in the early 1990s, it did not face as many problems as it now does and even strong winter storms won’t be able to solve all of California’s problems.
When it comes to farmers versus fish or agriculturalist versus residential users, a win-win situation might not be reachable if there simply isn’t enough water to go around. No amount of levy building or ground water pumping can make up for all the demand. Even so, some groups, including two major water districts are actively moving to resume pre-drought levels of water production. In a statement released by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (which provides water to about 5,200 square miles and 19 million people in Southern California), General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said, “The welcome storms this winter have eased short-term water management challenges as we continue to advance a historic long-term solution to the water system/ecosystem crisis in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The long-term challenges remain ahead of us, but the short-term conditions have improved considerably.”
Shortly after that statement was released, the metropolitan district along with the Westlands Water District asked a federal judge in Fresno to lift pumping restrictions to allow more water for the districts. The Westlands district is a major provider for agriculture in the Central Valley. It supplies water to farms and towns near a long stretch of the California Aqueduct north of Kettleman City.
Westlands’ general manager said more could still be done to increase the availability of California’s water supply – even so, it might not be enough to quench the state’s thirst. Thomas Birmingham said in a written statement, “Until we fix the delivery facilities, we will continue to be water-short throughout the state.”
In the Santa Ynez Valley, immediate impacts from the official end of the drought likely won’t be felt by residents, though winter storms have been a welcome replenishment to local reservoirs. As of Monday, Lake Cachuma had reached more than 160% of its normal level. The Valley is fairly well supplied with water from the surrounding mountains and reservoirs, not to mention a strong groundwater table.
However, the long-term fixes for the water crisis could be felt locally. If changes are made to the amount of state water available to local suppliers or to the amount of water allocated for ecological restoration, it could have an impact on the area. brookshire@syvjournal.com