Driller Elias Medrano, left, and his son, assistant driller Manny Medrano, both with Big’N & Son Drilling out of Oroville, work to install a new water supply well at Berry Creek School in Butte County. The school received approximately $894,000 from the California Department of Water Resources’ Small Community Drought Relief Program to help rehabilitate its water supply and distribution system after being destroyed during the 2020 Bear Fire. Photo taken February 27, 2024. Xavier Mascareñas / California Department of Water Resources

This was written by staff at the nonprofit newsroom CalMatters. It was republished by The Mendocino Voice in partnership with CalMatters to bring relevant nonpartisan news to Mendocino County readers. Learn more about CalMatters here.

SACRAMENTO, CA., 2/27/25 – After abundant rain and moderate snowfall this year in the northern half of the state, California’s largest reservoirs are holding more than 120% of their historical average. But underground, the state’s supply of water for drinking and irrigating crops remains depleted.

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Alastair Bland lives in Sonoma County, California. He writes about water, climate, marine research, agriculture and the environment, and his work has appeared at NPR, Time, East Bay Express, Audubon, Hakai,...