On January 31st, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order requiring the California water resources agency to find ways to maximize water storage to retain rainwater in the upcoming atmospheric river weather phenomenon.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an atmospheric river is a long and narrow channel of water vapor that can transport moisture from tropical regions over long distances in the atmosphere.
The National Weather Service in the United States issued flood warnings on the 31st, forecasting heavy rainfall in multiple counties in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the storm. The latest predictions indicate that on Monday, the 3rd, parts of Northern California/Pacific Northwest to the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains will see heavy snowfall; and there is a slight increase in the risk of excessive rainfall in parts of Northern and Central California before Wednesday, the 5th.
Governor Newsom stated in a press release, “Now more than ever, it is crucial that we make use of every opportunity to replenish our groundwater. With anticipated rain and snow in Northern California, we are also prepared to utilize every drop to increase water resources for communities and farms across the state.”
The order requires the California Department of Water Resources to take “all feasible and appropriate actions” to divert precipitation from winter storms (as well as other storms) to be stored in the San Luis Reservoir.
The governor also instructed the Department of Water Resources, the California Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency to identify and remove any obstacles hindering water diversion and storage.
Newsom stated that this action will allow state reservoirs to store more water, aiding in replenishing groundwater.
The long-standing water resource issues that have plagued California residents recently turned into a deadly problem in the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. According to fire officials and media reports, when two major fires broke out on January 7th and ravaged homes in Los Angeles, the local water supply system could not provide enough water to extinguish the fires. The fires have claimed at least 29 lives and destroyed over 16,000 structures.
The Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Pacific Palisades community was supposed to be activated in such emergencies, but it was undergoing maintenance and was empty at the time of the fire outbreak, rendering it devoid of water.
In response, on January 10th, Newsom announced through the social media platform X that he had called for an independent investigation into the lack of water in local fire hydrants and the empty state of the Santa Ynez Reservoir.