After two dry years, California now faces its driest year on record. A few late winter storms have helped, but only marginally. By late February, water content in the winter snowpack was a meager 23 percent of normal, and water officials said it would be nearly impossible for California to receive enough rain and snow over the next few months to make up the deficit.
The agriculture industry faces decisions about whether fields should go fallow. Residents are being asked to cut water usage by 10, even 20 percent — and many have already made water conservation a way of life as a result of previous droughts. All wonder if this is a passing crisis, or a harbinger of a new normal.
Experts throughout the University of California are grappling with these issues as well. Their research provides guidance for growers, advice for residents and insights for us all. As the state's water crisis unfolds, stay informed about UC's efforts to find answers and solutions on their website: universityofcalifornia.edu
