California has endured deluge after deluge this winter, including several atmospheric rivers that dumped tons of rain all at once. But one good winter after years of drought does not mean California no longer faces water shortages.

Droughts are becoming more common and more extreme as the climate crisis intensifies, and communities across the state dependent on depleted underground aquifers and parched Colorado River supplies do not have enough water to meet the demands of their farmers and cities. Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley has been drained more quickly than it can be recharged, so thousands of wells have gone dry. And reservoirs storing Delta water have experienced record lows in recent years.

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