Water Crisis

A man in a yellow T-shirt and dark gray ball cap sprays at hose toward a house.

Californians Used More Water As State Braces For Another Dry Year

The increased water use in California’s cities and towns came during the second-driest January on record, as the Sierra Nevada snowpack continues to dwindle — and another dry summer looms.

Two tiny figures walk along a dusty dirty road amid a desert landscape, with mountains towering in the distance. Only a light dusting of snow is visible on the mountaintops.

It'll Take A 'Miracle March' To Avoid A Third Year Of Severe Drought

January and February used to be two of the wettest months of the year, but we just had the driest first two months on record.

An image of a creek running between drifts of snow. Snow-capped mountains and green pine trees are in the background.

Snow Falling: As Climate Warms, Overhauling California Water Projections Gains Urgency

The Sierra Nevada hasn’t provided nearly as much water as predicted. Now the state is struggling to overhaul its snow runoff forecasts.

Walkways extend out over lake water. The shore on the near side appears brown and red, and also has some pipes/tubes on it. They extend out to buildings on the water. There are red and brown hills in the background.

Study Finds Western Megadrought Is The Worst In 1,200 Years

The last comparable — though not as severe — multi-decade mega-drought occurred in the 1500s, when the West was still largely inhabited by American Indian tribes.

For California, 'Dry January' Is Not A Personal Challenge, But A Climate Crisis

You’ve probably heard about December’s record rain and snow. But it hasn’t done much to ease the drought, according to state water officials.

A buoy sits on dry ground that was previously underwater at Lake Oroville.

No, California’s Drought Isn’t Over. Here’s Why

California issued emergency drought rules today aimed at wasteful water use. Although snowpack is 150% of average today, climatologists predict dry conditions for the rest of the season. And conservation still lags.