Resilience, not ruin: Overflowing reservoirs remind us nature recovers despite doomsday predictions
01/05/2026 / By Willow Tohi
California’s major reservoirs are at or above 100% of historical average capacity following a wet winter.
The high water levels provide critical relief after years of severe drought conditions.
State officials caution that the abundance is temporary and does not signify a “normal” water year.
The dramatic swing from drought to surplus highlights the state’s extreme weather variability.
Experts emphasize continued water management and conservation are essential for future dry periods.
In a striking turnaround from years of severe drought, California’s key reservoirs have reached historically high water levels for this time of year, according to state data. The shift, driven by a series of potent atmospheric river storms this past winter, has filled the state’s primary water storage systems and temporarily erased drought conditions across Southern California. This rapid recovery from deficit to surplus underscores the profound and natural variability of the state’s climate, challenging narratives of permanent aridification and placing a renewed focus on water management strategies over long-term climate projections.
https://www.climate.news/2026-01-05-reservoirs-remind-nature-recovers-despite-doomsday-predictions.html
