Rain and Snowpack Bring Drought Relief to California

March 10, 2017 ● Drought

After living for five years in a drought of historic proportions, Californians are finally seeing relief from a dry spell that some thought might never end. A year ago, more than 90 percent of the state was in some level of drought. Today, thanks to weeks of record-setting rain and heavy snowpack in the north, less than 20 percent of the state is facing drought conditions. Furthermore, no part of the state is experiencing “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions.

In Santa Barbara, the massive Cachuma Lake reservoir rose a remarkable 31 feet in February following days of intense rain. Earlier this season, the reservoir had fallen to just seven percent of its capacity, raising concerns that it could no longer function as a regional water supply.

Meanwhile, in Northern California, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is at nearly twice its normal level. In fact, the region hasn’t had this much snow since 1993. This snowpack is a crucial component of California’s drought relief, providing roughly 30 percent of the state’s annual water supply.

The State Water Resources Control Board hasn’t ended its emergency drought restrictions yet, but they have pledged to revisit the restrictions in May. If the current weather trends persist, it’s becoming increasingly likely that we will see an end to water restrictions throughout much, if not all, of the state.

With California’s drought finally coming to an end, there’s never been a better time to revitalize your lawn with fresh California sod. We source our sod from farms all over Southern California, so it can be delivered right to your door within 24 hours of being harvested. We also (depending on your area) offer over a dozen sod varieties to suit the unique needs of each of our customers, including drought tolerant sods, native sods and alternative sods. Give us a call or contact us online today to learn more.