Words by Tess Becker
It feels like California is in a perpetual drought. There was a five-year drought period from late 2011 to late 2016, and there has been a historical precedent for droughts in the state going back thousands of years.
There’s currently a drought in California that started in 2020 that may have just started letting up.
Thanks to a series of storms in recent weeks, many parts of the state have been pulled out of a drought. About half of California is now drought-free.
In early March, stats showed only 0.32% of the state, up near the California-Oregon border, was still considered to be in “extreme drought.” Maps show the massive change in drought in just a few short months.
The storms, while threatening some flooding, as well as a near-record snowfall, bode well for the near future of the state’s drought. Reservoirs are filling up as well, marking a good return for the state’s water supply.
“When you go out to Lexington Reservoir, it's a huge difference from what you saw in September from what you're seeing now. It's beautiful to see the water rise up on the banks,” said Santa Clara Valley Water spokesperson Matt Keller.
