There were still weeks to go in the wet season and the reservoirs were full, thanks to last winter’s near record-breaking rain and snow.
“The outlook isn’t good,” said David Rizzardo, chief of snow surveys with the Department of Water Resources.
Sacramento has seen 7.8 inches of rainfall – 50 percent of average.
Jerry Brown declared an end to the five-year drought last April, but most climatologists and forecasters say drought-like conditions have returned.
“We’re in a ‘little D’ drought, or at the beginning of a ‘little D’ drought,” said Michelle Mead of the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
What’s preventing a “big D” drought – where dramatic conservation measures are ordered?
It’s partly the state’s reservoirs, most of which are at their historic averages because of last winter’s record rains.
Notably, Sacramento allows just one day a week of outdoor watering in winter.
Related stories from Sacramento Bee Sierra Nevada snow picture brightens, but is still just a fraction of normal Specter of drought looms as California’s weather turns dry again Why millions of dead trees in the Sierra may have helped save water during the drought Hanak said she expects some communities to impose other water-reducing measures and “do some belt-tightening” this summer.
“One real concern of climate change is just this constant back and forth on the extremes.

BLOG ROUND-UP: Bloggers on Oroville Dam, Delta smelt salvage, Water law and drought, Stockton and sea level rise, and more ….
Brown – his son is the current governor for those not familiar with California politics – as a pushy politician looking for a legacy.
Restore the Delta writes, ” … Reporters Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler examined CA’s deep history of irresponsible infrastructure planning—a statewide problem passed down from father (former-governor Pat Brown) to son (current Governor Jerry Brown)—in an article published Sunday.
… ” Read more from the PPIC Blog here: Water law aided ecosystems in drought Abolish private property in water?
… ” Continue reading at the Master Resource blog here: Abolish private property in water?
California needs markets (Stroshane reconsidered) Governor Brown cuts $100 million for drought response in revised budget: Restore the Delta writes, “Governor Brown’s May revision of the California Budget released Thursday slashed over $100 million in funds designated for drought response.
… ” Continue reading at Restore the Delta here: Governor Brown cuts $100 million for drought response in revised budget Where your water goes after it goes down the drain: Bad Mom, Good Mom writes, “Last November, I had the opportunity to chaperone my daughter’s class when they visited the West Basin Water District’s Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo, California.
… ” Continue reading at the Bad Mom, Good Mom blog here: Where your water goes after it goes down the drain Stockton of the future?
Using less water on the Lower Colorado River: John Fleck writes, “At the end of April, Lake Mead sat at 1,085 feet above sea level, more than eight feet higher than it was a year ago.
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