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State, federal agencies outline mixed outlook as water year 2026 begins
Summary
State and federal water officials briefed the State Water Resources Control Board on Oct. 7 about mixed signals entering the 2026 water year, saying Northern California had near‑average storage but that La Niña and Pacific marine heat anomalies raise the chance of intense but spatially uneven storms.
Sacramento — State and federal water officials briefed the State Water Resources Control Board on Oct. 7 about conditions coming into the 2026 water year, saying storage and reservoir levels are generally close to multi‑year averages in the north but that La Niña and Pacific marine heat anomalies increase the risk of abrupt swings between intense storms and prolonged dry periods.
The briefing, led by Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth and a DWR forecasting team, United States Bureau of Reclamation Acting Regional Director Adam Nichols and NOAA‑affiliated presenters, emphasized readiness for both flood and drought outcomes and new tools to manage rapid shifts in supply.
The agencies said Northern Sierra rainfall and reservoir storage finished 2025 slightly above average, while much of Southern California remained dry. Director Nemeth noted the state has “a renewed sense of urgency” for flood‑managed aquifer recharge, and described investments and planning to enable rapid recharge when storm runoff…
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