Publication Date January 14, 2016 | Capital Public Radio

Exceptional Drought Eases In Northern California

United States
The U.S. Drought Monitor released January 14 showed a slight improvement in one category of drought in California. But the weekly report noted that recovery will be slow after more than three-years of drought.
The Donner Memorial State Historic Park in Truckee in December 2015. Snow storms have continued to build snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, critical to California's water supply. Photo: Ed Joyce, Capital Public Radio
The Donner Memorial State Historic Park in Truckee in December 2015. Snow storms have continued to build snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, critical to California's water supply. Photo: Ed Joyce, Capital Public Radio

The U.S. Drought Monitor released January 14 showed a slight improvement in one category of drought in California. But the weekly report noted that recovery will be slow after more than three-years of drought.

"In California, even with the rain and snow received over the last several weeks, many areas are still running below normal for precipitation and snow for the current water year," according to the update. "Wells, reservoirs, ground water, and soil moisture are all recovering slowly, which is to be expected after three-plus years of drought."

While the reduction is a good start, and many reservoirs show improvement, the report reiterates that drought recovery will take time: "The consensus from California experts is that recovery will be slow, and many more storm events are needed through the rest of winter to really put a dent in the drought."