Drought not over in SCV.
Normally, for this time of year, the SCV sees 12.9 inches of rain in what agency officials refer to as a “historical average” amount of rainfall.
Despite the rain, however, the SCV is still considered drought-stricken, according to CLWA water resource experts.
As of the last two weeks, no area of California is considered in extreme or exceptional drought conditions, according to a report prepared for the committee by Dirk Marks, the agency’s water resources manager.
“Last year at this time, extreme drought covered 61 percent of California with 38 percent considered exceptional,” the report reads.
“Approximately 62 percent of California is (now) considered out of the drought completely.” Santa Clarita Valley, however, remains drought-bound.
One particular “8-station North Sierra index” shows precipitation as 222 percent of average.
Big dams in California are filled with water.
Even Castaic Lake, which dried up continually over three years, is now 108 percent of its historical average and is 93 percent full to capacity.
On a positive note, the same committee is expected to learn Thursday that the state-mandate calling for communities to form their own groundwater sustainability group is pressing ahead as planned.