California Drought

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California Drought

Updated drought tracker

Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area

Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts.

Bay Area
California officials warn of more water restrictions in 2023 as fourth year of drought looms
State and federal water managers say they’re preparing for another dry year and are considering reduced water deliveries from California’s reservoirs in 2023. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
Am I a water hog? Here’s what could land you on California’s list of homes using too much water
Three homes have become the first in the Bay Area to be publicly named as using too much water. More are coming. Here are the common causes for people making the list. By Michael Cabanatuan
Bay Area
‘Sometimes shaming is your best and only option’: Should California scorn people over water use?
The East Bay Municipal Utility District has begun releasing the names of its biggest water users. It’s a controversial practice, but it can be effective. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
Three homes have become the first in the Bay Area to be publicly named as using too much water
The East Bay Municipal Utility District has begun fining households that consume too much water during the drought. By Kurtis Alexander and Michael Cabanatuan
Climate
Wine Country is reeling from ‘mass attacks’ on trees. Here’s what is going on
Napa County has declared an emergency as the dreaded bark beetle annihilates trees stressed by fire and drought. By Kate Galbraith
Bay Area
Benicia orders residents, businesses to immediately cut water use by 30% after pipeline break
Benicia residents and businesses must immediately cut their water usage by 30% because of a pipeline break. By Carolyn Said
California
Southern California wastes a lot of water despite historic drought. But it can teach the Bay Area...
The Bay Area has generally been among the best regions in California at water conservation, while Southern California gets a bad rap. But there’s a twist. By Kurtis Alexander and Yoohyun Jung
Bay Area
Rare September rainstorm batters Bay Area after grueling heat, drought
The September storm marks a dramatic shift for residents recovering from a record heat wave in the heart of wildfire season and a years-long drought. By Matthias Gafni, Sam Whiting and Rachel Swan
Bay Area
September rain: Will looming storm fight the Mosquito Fire and the drought?
Meteorologists predict the rain could provide some respite, though it will be temporary. By Rachel Swan
Climate
Here’s the alarming amount of ice California’s longest glacier just lost in the heat wave
Drought and scorching temperatures, punctuated by the recent heat wave, have left Mount Shasta with barely any snow for a second straight year. By Kurtis Alexander
Climate
The rice capital of California is ‘now just a wasteland.’ Satellite images show how bad it is
Farming data show the drought is taking a serious toll. By Yoohyun Jung
Climate
Why this underappreciated rodent is one of California’s best chances to fight climate change
Beavers have been underappreciated, hunted or widely ignored in the state for decades. That’s about to change as the governor’s new budget pumps money into aid. By Emma Talley
Bay Area
Mill Fire: Investigators comb through lumber warehouse where blaze first reported
Cal Fire is searching for clues as to what sparked a fast-moving blaze that torched dozens of homes in Weed. No cause has been determined. By Matthias Gafni
Climate
Why California’s largest reservoir in nearly 50 years may be derailed by water shortages
A $4 billion plan would flood miles of ranchlands and create California’s first major reservoir in a half-century. But there may not be enough water to fill it. By Kurtis Alexander
Climate
California drought: Why more than 530,000 acres of farmlands are now left barren
In August 2022, there were 531,000 acres of unplanted farmland in California. By Yoohyun Jung
Climate
Fearing climate-related water loss, California acts to bolster its water supplies
With drought and climate change expected to potentially deplete up to 10% of California’s water supplies in the coming decades, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans on Thursday to tap more sources of water. By Michael Cabanatuan
Bay Area
Lightning-caused wildfires prompt evacuations in Humboldt, Trinity counties
The Six Rivers Lightning Complex began as a dozen lightning-caused blazes on Friday and continued to burn out of control over the weekend. By Kellie Hwang
Climate
California drought: Summer is crucial for saving water, but conservation still ho-hum
New state water data shows that Californians have conserved a paltry 2.7% since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked for sacrifice. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
California’s High Sierra used to be perfect for hiking in August. Here’s why it’s all changed
For backcountry hikers, August used to be a magical month, coming after the mosquitoes and before early autumn storms. Now, the risk of fires and smoke has cast a pall. By Kate Galbraith
Bay Area
As drought intensifies, Newsom plans California’s biggest water project in half a century
California water officials are moving forward with a controversial $16 billion plan to build a 45-mile pipeline beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The goal is to secure California’s water supplies. By Kurtis Alexander
Climate
These before and after images show the devastating effects of California’s drought — from space
Drought’s impact is visible from space. By Yoohyun Jung
Climate
Mono Lake was supposed to have been saved from going dry. Now, the ‘white stuff’ forces a reckoning
One of North America’s oldest lakes and an emblem of California’s wild beauty faces a painful reckoning as the drought intensifies. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
Third year of La Niña could deepen California drought
Climate experts say there’s a high chance that La Niña conditions will prevail in California into the fall and early winter, bringing dry weather to parts of the state. By Michael Cabanatuan
Bay Area
There’s a simple way to cut your water use — but many Californians don’t even know about it
As the latest drought drags on, advocates point to reused household water, or greywater, as a relatively easy way to cut outdoor water use. But statewide incentives are still lacking for systems that can save a household thousands of gallons a year. By Danielle Echeverria
Bay Area
Californians are starting to save water. Finally. And not much
Californians are finally using less water, rather than more, as the punishing drought continues. But they’re nowhere near Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for 15% savings. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
California’s drought is dire. But there’s a surprising bright spot that may make this year better...
Spring runoff is one of the most important barometers of state water supplies, and it’s up over a year ago despite the intensity of the drought. By Kurtis Alexander
Bay Area
It’s a popular California swimming lake. The deaths of a teen, and then a man trying to help his...
A father trying to help his son and a teenage baseball star are the latest victims claimed by the waters of Lake Berryessa. By Rachel Swan
Bay Area
Fireworks could have ‘devastating’ effects during 4th of July celebrations, Bay Area fire...
With the Fourth of July weekend approaching in the midst of a punishing drought and a pivotal moment in California’s wildfire season, fire officials across the Bay Area were once again pleading with the public to choose ways to celebrate that... By Annie Vainshtein
Climate
California’s drought means less water to go around. Who is winning the pursuit for water — and...
In California, state and federal water managers who control massive projects that supply farms and cities are having to make hard choices. By Yoohyun Jung and Kurtis Alexander
Politics
Newsom refuses to mandate strict water cuts. Why his ‘bottom-up’ drought strategy is not working
Newsom has refused to follow in former Gov. Jerry Brown’s footsteps and mandate that all residents cut back. But Newsom’s calls for voluntary conservation aren’t working as water consumption soars. By Dustin Gardiner
Bay Area
The cruelest summer yet? California is facing drought, heat, blackouts and fires — all at once
Drought. Extreme heat. Wildfires. Potential blackouts. It’s “danger season” for California and much of the West. By Kurtis Alexander
Climate
Why toxic algae blooms are on the rise across California — and expected to get worse
Harmful algal blooms are natural parts of the ecosystem, but they can also release toxins that sicken or even kill people and animals. They’re becoming more common as temperatures rise and water systems are starved and disrupted. By Yoohyun Jung
Bay Area
Bay Briefing: Who won and who lost on election day
Plus: Tighter drought restrictions hit S.F., other California cities By Gwendolyn Wu
Climate
California orders thousands of farms and cities, including San Francisco, to stop pumping water...
After three dry years, state regulators have begun restricting water draws from rivers and creeks in the sprawling Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds. By Kurtis Alexander
Climate
California water use soars — again — despite Gov. Newsom’s call for conservation
Water use in cities and towns jumped 18% in the month of April, continuing a concerning trend of increasing water consumption amid a three-year drought. By Kurtis Alexander