On a recent trip to California, my wife and I enjoyed sevÂerÂal days of driÂving through and hikÂing in the foothills around San Francisco. California has expeÂriÂenced much highÂer than norÂmal amounts of rain and record snowÂfall this winÂter. We expeÂriÂenced the wet weathÂer durÂing our excursions.
The foothills were a beauÂtiÂful vibrant green; they were espeÂcialÂly strikÂing when the sun could illuÂmiÂnate them through breaks in the clouds.
This winter’s preÂcipÂiÂtaÂtion there will go a long way toward replenÂishÂing the reserÂvoirs and relievÂing the drought conÂdiÂtions. However, critÂiÂcalÂly low water tables due to decades of pumpÂing water out of the ground to supÂport develÂopÂment and agriÂculÂture won’t be alleÂviÂatÂed by a sinÂgle wet winÂter. Water access and use will likeÂly remain a critÂiÂcal issue for years to come, not just in California but throughÂout many westÂern states.
