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Another Wet Year Is Likely
Grey floodwaters rise halfway up the trunks of trees in an orchard on a farm in Tulare County in California's Central Valley.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
We’re likely in for another wet year — possibly an even wetter winter than last year. That’s due to the El Niño climate pattern, which could become a Super El Niño. On Tuesday, state water managers said they plan to spend some $50 million in the next few months to repair damage to flood control systems from last year’s storms and shore up other infrastructure to prepare.
What’s next: Officials from the California Department of Water Resources said they’re in the process of releasing water from reservoirs to make room for more this winter. And they said they’re hosting preparation meetings with local communities that were hardest hit last year, including in Ventura and Riverside counties.
Potential big impacts to coast: Coastal communities could see some of the biggest impacts, said Gary Lippner, deputy director of the state’s flood management and dam safety programs. El Niño often means bigger storm surges and higher than normal sea levels, which worsen erosion and flooding.
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The current state of water: While most reservoirs across the state are at above average levels for this time of year, and groundwater basins have also seen big improvements, state officials say we still need a few more wet years to fully replenish those underground basins, both locally and in the Central Valley.
Go Deeper:
LA Is Capturing More Rain, But Increasingly Extreme Storms Present A Challenge
Land Of Fire And Flood: How The Climate Crisis Is Challenging Our Water Supply
LA Is At Greater Risk Of Flooding Than Previously Thought, Particularly In Black Communities
From Drought to Deluge: The Story of the Biggest, Wettest Winter in Western History
The Push To Reimagine LA's Streets And Alleyways To Fight Both Drought And Floods
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