California's water resilience strategy shows major progress after winter storms: state out of drought, according to U.S. Drought Monitor

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Jan 15, 2026

California's water resilience strategy shows major progress after winter storms: state out of drought, according to U.S. Drought Monitor

U.S. Drought Monitor — one of several indicators — shows no drought and improved water conditions

What you need to know: California's strategic investments in water management are showing significant progress, with reservoirs replenishing and groundwater recharging after recent winter storms. For the first time in years, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows no drought conditions across California — one of several indicators reflecting the state's improved water outlook. With the winter season in its early stages, the Newsom administration is laser-focused on capturing water, strengthening storage, and preparing California for continued climate extremes.

SACRAMENTO – Following a series of winter storms and multiple years of improved hydrologic conditions, California's ongoing efforts to recover from the multi-year drought that began in 2021 are showing significant progress. Current conditions are notably better across much of the state, and the work to restore long-term water security continues.

Reservoir storage has improved substantially, with Lake Oroville — the largest reservoir in the State Water Project — rising 137 feet since December 20 and capturing over 300,000 acre-feet of water.

California's water strategy is working. We're not just managing for today's conditions — we're building a system that can handle whatever our changing climate throws at us. That means capturing rainwater when storms hit, storing it for dry seasons, and protecting communities from floods. This is how California, a state of nearly 40 million people, leads.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Snowpack is near to above seasonal averages in many regions, and groundwater conditions continue to benefit from multiple years of precipitation. Several state and national indicators, including the U.S. Drought Monitor, show eased drought conditions across California — a reflection of both favorable weather and sustained investments in smarter, more resilient water management.

Managing for climate extremes

While statewide indicators show improvement, some areas remain drier than average, underscoring the need for continued conservation and forward-looking water management. Recovery from multi-year droughts can be a multi-year process, and increasing climate instability means that periods of intense precipitation can quickly give way to renewed dry periods.

Tools like California Water Watch provide a detailed, real-time picture of precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage, helping water managers make informed, day-to-day decisions based on local and regional conditions.

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As the 2026 water year begins with above-average conditions to date, state agencies continue to capture stormwater when possible, protect communities from flooding, and store water for dry periods ahead — strengthening California's ability to manage extremes and ensuring the state is better prepared for whatever comes next.

Building water storage for a more resilient California

Along the Sacramento River Basin, the Big Notch fish passage project is now in action to both modernize and improve California's water system while also protecting juvenile endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. The Big Notch is a key State Water Project infrastructure investment, improving conditions for migratory fish while supporting the water supply depended upon by tens of millions of Californians. It's part of the State Water Project's ongoing efforts to balance water supply and environmental protection.

In August, California committed an additional $219 million to the Sites Reservoir project. Sites Reservoir is a key component of Governor Newsom's water strategy—capturing water from the Sacramento River during wet seasons and storing it for use during drier seasons. These efforts will hold up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, which is enough to supply over 4.5 million homes for a year. The project will help California maintain a resilient water supply in the face of climate change, weather extremes, and water scarcity.

In addition to surface water storage, the Newsom administration is working to improve California's underground water storage through groundwater recharge efforts. Over the course of 2024, the state received average precipitation, helping sustain recharge efforts after the exceptionally wet 2023. These last three years (2023, 2024, and 2025) have seen continued increases in groundwater storage. Water Year 2024 increased by 2.2 million acre-feet reported across 98 basins — a direct result of state and local actions to capture and store more water underground.

These investments ensure that when water does arrive, we can store it, use it wisely, and build long-term resilience for the entire state.

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