California was a land of dreams because our leaders dreamed big. Now it is the land of limitations because our leaders think small. With elections for a new governor and a new Legislature this year, voters can change this if they start asking the right questions.
2026 began in California with two atmospheric rivers and storms, which resulted in precipitation that was 119% of average rainfall for January. However, much of it flowed into the Pacific Ocean.
Moreover, by the end of February our statewide snowpack was only 66% of average for this date, constituting a significant decline from 85% at this time last year. This is critical because the snowpack acts as a reservoir that releases water to rivers and supplies man-made reservoirs when the climate is dry. If our existing number of reservoirs — built to supply a smaller population — reach capacity, they cannot store the runoff.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Newsom oversees years of failed California water policy
Daniel Kolkey
California was a land of dreams because our leaders dreamed big. Now it is the land of limitations because our leaders think small. With elections for a new governor and a new Legislature this year, voters can change this if they start asking the right questions.
2026 began in California with two atmospheric rivers and storms, which resulted in precipitation that was 119% of average rainfall for January. However, much of it flowed into the Pacific Ocean.
Moreover, by the end of February our statewide snowpack was only 66% of average for this date, constituting a significant decline from 85% at this time last year. This is critical because the snowpack acts as a reservoir that releases water to rivers and supplies man-made reservoirs when the climate is dry. If our existing number of reservoirs — built to supply a smaller population — reach capacity, they cannot store the runoff.
Read the entire op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.