π Current Conditions as of March 2026
In Drought
0%
of CA land (D2+)
Very Wet
14%
of CA land (W2+)
π Historical Trends 1895-Present
This chart tracks the percentage of California's land area classified as severe drought (D2+) over time. The trend line reveals that drought severity has increased significantly since the late 20th century, with post-1990 droughts covering more of the state and lasting longer than the pre-1960 baseline.
The annual rate at which severe drought coverage is changing. A positive value means droughts are covering more of California each year. The p-value indicates statistical confidenceβvalues below 0.05 mean the trend is unlikely due to random chance.
Trend
+0.072%
per year (p=0.0083)
The average percentage of California experiencing severe drought (D2 or worse) during the historical baseline period before 1960. This represents conditions before significant climate change impacts.
Pre-1960
8.1%
D2+ baseline
The average percentage of California experiencing severe drought (D2 or worse) since 1990. Comparing this to the pre-1960 average reveals how drought conditions have changed in the modern era.
Post-1990
14.2%
D2+ modern
The percentage increase in severe drought coverage comparing the post-1990 period to the pre-1960 baseline. This shows how much more of California now experiences severe drought compared to the historical norm.
Change
+76%
severity increase
This chart tracks the percentage of California classified as very wet (W2+). Unlike drought, wet conditions have not changed significantly over the past 130 years. While individual wet years can be dramatic, the long-term trend is essentially flat, meaning California's wet extremes are not keeping pace with its worsening droughts.
The annual rate at which very wet conditions coverage is changing. A positive value means wet conditions are covering more of California each year. The p-value indicates statistical confidenceβvalues above 0.05 mean the trend may be due to random variation.
Trend
+0.034%
per year (p=0.3382)
The average percentage of California experiencing very wet conditions (W2 or wetter) during the historical baseline period before 1960. This represents typical wet conditions before significant climate change impacts.
Pre-1960
8.5%
W2+ baseline
The average percentage of California experiencing very wet conditions (W2 or wetter) since 1990. Comparing this to the pre-1960 average shows whether wet periods have changed in the modern era.
Post-1990
11.1%
W2+ modern
The percentage change in very wet conditions comparing the post-1990 period to the pre-1960 baseline. Unlike drought, this change is not statistically significant, meaning wet conditions have remained relatively stable.
Change
+31%
not significant
Key Findings from 130 Years of Data
π΄ Drought Severity: Getting Much Worse
+82% increase in severe drought. Highly significant (p=0.0047).
π Drought Frequency: No Change
Droughts occur at same frequency. Problem is severity, not frequency.
π§ Wet Conditions: Modest Increase
+27% increase, but not statistically significant (p=0.406).
βοΈ Asymmetric Intensification
Droughts intensifying 2.6Γ faster than wet periods.
π― Bottom Line
Asymmetric climate intensification: dry extremes worsen, wet stays flat.
Data: NOAA NCEI SPI (nClimGrid-Monthly) | 9-month SPI | 1895-Present
π§οΈ California Regional Precipitation
Cumulative precipitation for the Northern Sierra 8-Station Index. This is the primary indicator for California's water supply.
YTD Total
41.3"
through March 2026
Current precipitation compared to historical average for this point in the water year.
% of Avg
98%
below normal
Cumulative precipitation for the San Joaquin 5-Station Index (Central Sierra).
YTD Total
28.4"
through March 2026
Current precipitation compared to historical average for this point in the water year.
% of Avg
89%
below normal
Cumulative precipitation for the Tulare Basin 6-Station Index (Southern Sierra).
YTD Total
20.9"
through March 2026
Current precipitation compared to historical average for this point in the water year.
% of Avg
88%
below normal
Water Year 2026 Progress Cumulative precipitation vs. historical range
Analog Years: Dotted lines show historical years with the most similar precipitation pattern at this point in the water year.
β Blue = ended wet (>110% of avg),
β Red = ended dry (<90% of avg),
β Gray = ended normal. Hover for details.
ποΈ
Northern Sierra (8SI)
π― Water Year Outcome Forecast Projected end-of-year precipitation based on historical patterns
How to read: The cone shows the range of possible outcomes based on how similar past years finished.
The dark band shows 25th-75th percentile (likely range),
light band shows 10th-90th percentile (possible range).
The dashed line shows the median projection.
π Long-term Trends 100+ years of data β is precipitation changing?
Northern Sierra (8SI)
β
No significant trend
(not statistically significant)
San Joaquin (5SI)
β
No significant trend
(not statistically significant)
Tulare Basin (6SI)
β
No significant trend
(not statistically significant)
π§ Coming Soon to Supply Tab
βοΈ Snowpack CDEC
Sierra Nevada snow water equivalent
ποΈ Streamflow USGS
Major river flows & inflows
π³οΈ Groundwater CASGEM
Depth to groundwater levels
Data: NOAA PSL (1920-present) + CDEC (real-time) | Northern Sierra 8-Station, San Joaquin 5-Station (Central Sierra), Tulare Basin 6-Station (Southern Sierra)
ποΈ California Reservoir Storage as of 2026-04-08
21,957 / 24,973 TAF
17 Major Reservoirs Tracked
Status Breakdown
Full (90%+)
6
Good (70-90%)
11
Moderate (50-70%)
0
Low (30-50%)
0
Critical (<30%)
0
π§ Coming Soon to Storage Tab
πΊοΈ Groundwater Basins DWR
Basin boundaries and storage anomalies
π Subsidence Tracking InSAR
Land subsidence from overdraft
Data: CDEC (California Data Exchange Center) | Daily storage updates | 17 major reservoirs
ποΈ California Water Management Agencies
π’
Water Districts
1918 districts | 118,650 sq mi
π
Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
362 GSAs | 52,058 sq mi
Water Districts include irrigation districts, municipal utilities, community service districts, and other local agencies that manage water supply and distribution.
GSAs are local agencies responsible for developing and implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans under SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act).
Data Sources: DWR GIS Services (gis.water.ca.gov) for water district boundaries | SGMA Portal (sgma.water.ca.gov) for GSA boundaries | Data as of December 2025
π§ California Water Conveyance Infrastructure 87,908 features | 72,000 km mapped
State Water Project
181 segments
California Aqueduct & branches
Federal (Bureau of Reclamation)
113 segments
CVP canals & laterals
CVPIA Major Canals
96 segments
CDFW Central Valley canals
Local / Regional
180 segments
District canals & pipelines
NHD Canals & Ditches
87,338
All mapped canals & ditches statewide
π§ Coming Soon to Infrastructure Tab
β‘ Pumping Plants DWR
Key lift stations, capacity, and energy consumption data.
π Diversions eWRIMS
Point of diversion locations, permitted volumes, and actual usage.
ποΈ Condition Assessment Research
Infrastructure age, maintenance needs, and modernization projects.
Data: DWR Water Conveyance GIS | Bureau of Reclamation CVP | CDFW CVPIA | NHD (National Hydrography Dataset) β canals & ditches
π
Regulation & Policy
Navigate California's complex water rights system and groundwater sustainability regulations.
βοΈ Surface Water Rights eWRIMS
Appropriative and riparian rights, priority dates, and allocation status.
π Groundwater Sustainability Plans SGMA Portal
GSP summaries, sustainability indicators, and implementation milestones.
πΎ Ag Water Management Plans 90+ PDFs
District-level water use efficiency, conservation measures, and demand projections.
π’ Policy Tracking Research
Emerging regulations, curtailment orders, and legislative updates.
π°
Water Pricing
Track wholesale and retail water prices across California's agricultural sector. Data availability is limitedβthis tab is exploratory.
ποΈ USBR Contract Rates Scattered
Central Valley Project contract rates by district and water class.
πΉ Water Market Transactions WestWater
Spot market prices, transfer volumes, and price trends.
πΎ Irrigation District Rates AWMPs
Final delivery costs to farmers by district and crop type.
π Price Indices Nasdaq Veles
California water futures and index pricing where available.
πΎ Agricultural Land Use 2023 DWR Statewide Crop Mapping
Click any parcel to see crop type, acreage, irrigation method, and more. Zoom in to explore individual fields.
Crop Classification
Deciduous Fruits & Nuts
Pasture
Truck Crops (Vegetables)
Field Crops
Grain & Hay
Vineyards
Citrus & Subtropical
Rice
Young Perennial
Idle
Urban / Native / Water
Data: DWR Statewide Crop Mapping (2023, Final) |
DWR Land Use Viewer | ~447,000 parcels across 58 counties
π Other Demand Sectors
Municipal and residential water use, per-capita trends, and conservation progress.
Instream flows, habitat water, wildlife refuge allocations, and Delta outflow.
Manufacturing, energy production, and commercial water use by sector.