California's Innovative Approach to Water Management: From Floods to Drought Preparedness

California is using recent floods to prepare for future drought by diverting floodwaters from the San Joaquin River to replenish critical groundwater stores that have been depleted after drought fueled by rising global temperatures. The state is attempting to capitalize on historic amounts of rain and snow after experiencing three of its driest years on record. The plan has a “secondary benefit” of helping to mitigate potential flood impacts. However, diverting floodwaters and storing it for later use could have environmental and legal implications.