Mired Again in Drought, Experts Say California Is Better Prepared to Survive

The drought also featured consecutive years of crushing losses to Chinook salmon, most notably in 2014 when over 90% of juveniles perished due to mismanagement of the Sacramento River. The drought also took a toll on California forests, as an estimated 100 million trees died due to lack of water and drought-induced beetle infestations.

Now, experts are particularly concerned that Northern California --- home to the most critical reservoirs --- is suffering more than the southern parts of the state.   

“This time the drought has hit really hard the normally water-rich regions of the state,” said Alvar Escriva-Bou, researcher at Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center. “The Sacramento Valley being dry is really bad and has statewide implications.”

In a recent PPIC presentation, Escriva-Bou outlined the importance of the Sacramento Valley to the state’s complicated water system.

Not only does the watershed supply many cities in the San Francisco Bay Area down to Southern California, it serves farmers statewide and is critical to the health of the largest estuary on the West Coast, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. While the northernmost reservoirs are in awful shape, Escriva-Bou says the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California lakes have not yet reached low points measured in 2014.

Farmers and fish take a hit

Drought conditions are already having a significant financial impact, as western farmers have been told to expect meager water deliveries --- and in some cases not a drop --- this growing season.  

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation last month told farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin, which covers parts of Oregon and Northern California, to plan for less than 10% of the average amount of federally subsidized water made available annually.

California’s massive agricultural industry is being cut off as well, as on Wednesday the bureau notified farmers north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta their allocations are on hold until further notice.

In both instances, the feds said supplies were being prioritized for endangered suckerfish and salmon species unable to survive the sizzling river water temperatures expected this summer. 

More fortunate farmers will be able to make up the difference by pumping groundwater in the coming months, but not all can afford digging new wells. Some won’t be as lucky as major aquifers haven’t recharged since the last drought.

The historically low and warm rivers have additionally prompted conservation officials to take great steps to keep the state’s iconic salmon populations alive.

Over the next month the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will transport over 16 million juvenile salmon from riverside hatcheries hundreds of miles to the San Francisco Bay. In total, it will take nearly 150 truck loads to bypass dangerous, soupy stretches of river and give salmon a fighting chance.

The department says it’s learned from past droughts and is more prepared than ever to keep the state’s fragile ecosystems strong.

“CDFW is utilizing lessons learned from the past 15 or more years of salmon releases and the last drought to maximize release success,” said Jason Julienne, North Central Region Hatchery supervisor, in a statement. “Trucking young salmon to downstream release sites has proven to be one of the best ways to increase survival to the ocean during dry conditions.”

Drought-charged wildfires loom

An obvious testament to the bust that was California’s winter, federal park rangers earlier this week made a startling discovery in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

While conducting surveys in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, rangers found a smoldering giant sequoia in an area that burned in last year’s Castle Fire. Though the fire was officially contained last December, the rangers’ discovery proves at least one of the majestic trees was able to burn for months thanks to below-average snowfall.   

Each summer brings the potential for wildfires. But this year the state is further on edge due to the drought and the devastating 2020 fire season.   

The lack of spring rain and corresponding high temperatures have already dried out grasses and soils, leaving the state’s most fire-prone areas ripe to burn months earlier than usual. California’s fire season traditionally runs from May to October, but the window has opened wider in recent years.

In 2020, a record-breaking season in which over 4.3 million acres burned, firefighters were still battling major blazes through the holidays. The Golden State has seen three of its top four most destructive wildfire seasons in the last five years.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimates wildfire season has grown by 75 days across the Sierra due to climate change. The current year is off to a quick start as nearly 1,800 fires have already started compared to 1,065 at this point in 2020.  

State and local officials agree California faces another potentially calamitous stretch of fires.

“We’ve had fires that are unprecedented for this time of year,” said Davis. “What would have been wet grasses are now dry, so we are preparing for a very long and difficult season.”  

Next steps

As Newsom mulls whether to declare a statewide emergency, regulators and water districts are hopeful the state will avoid the catastrophes of last decade as the drought continues.

During a recent drought panel hosted by the PPIC, Escriva-Bou outlined the various measures and infrastructure improvements made over the last several years. He noted urban water usage is down over 15% compared to the start of the last drought and that more advanced data is available to help districts and regulators make conservation decisions.  

As for agriculture, Escriva-Bou said the federal government and state are already helping to coordinate water trading as well as offering millions in financial assistance to farmers that have had surface water deliveries halted.

Regulators are also promising a more proactive drought approach, particularly when it comes to ensuring rural communities have access to the most basic human right.

Laurel Firestone, who was appointed to the State Water Resources Control Board in 2019, says the water board is working to identify farming communities most at risk of seeing their drinking wells go dry and work with them on backup plans. Unlike the last drought, Firestone hopes water tankers and bottled water won’t be necessary to sustain neighborhoods in places like Tulare and Fresno counties.  

“State officials are continuing to monitor conditions really closely so that we can and will act swiftly and effectively when necessary,” Firestone said. “We’re much better prepared.”

Continuing to prepare is key as California’s drought is only in its second year. The last one lasted five and others have gone six years.

Now armed with more information and a more proactive mindset, Escriva-Bou predicts the state will avoid the severest impacts.     

“We saw last time that California was slow to respond,” he said. “Looking at what has happened between the past drought and this drought, we are more optimistic.”

Follow @@NickCahill_5

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit