Oct. 1, 2026, marked the start of Water Year 2027 in California, and the Department of Water Resources said it is preparing for potential extreme weather emergencies while positioning the state to capture and store as much water as possible under strong El Niño conditions.
“California is taking action now to prepare for flood season. With strong El Niño conditions on the horizon this winter, being ready for anything is more important than ever,” said DWR Director Tom Gibson. “We don’t yet know where or when the storms will hit, but we can take actions to prepare now. DWR and our partner agencies across California will be ready.”
California’s water year runs from October 1 to September 30. At the start of the new water year, DWR said major reservoirs across the state were at 107 percent of average for the date. Lake Oroville, the largest reservoir in the State Water Project, was at 85 percent of average and 48 percent capacity, the department said.
DWR said it is coordinating with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on flood preparedness after Gov. proclaimed a state of emergency last week to bolster readiness for potential El Niño impacts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecasted a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong El Niño event this winter, according to the release.
DWR said it is holding 13 regional workshops for partner agencies and has stockpiled flood-fighting materials at 68 locations across the state, including 4.4 million sandbags and 400,000 tons of rock for emergency levee repairs if needed. Every fall, the department said, staff inspect all 1,600 miles of levees within the State Plan of Flood Control.
The department also said State Water Project crews spent the summer on annual maintenance and inspections so the system can capture, store and move water when conditions allow, and that groundwater recharge efforts are underway as part of the governor’s Water Supply Strategy.
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named once in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
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