California has faced severe droughts for years, but it did not take advantage of heavy storms from late 2022 to early 2023 that brought 32 trillion gallons of rainwater. Governor Gavin Newsom has faced criticism for not capturing more of this water for future use. Although the rain could meet the state's water needs for at least a decade if stored properly, only about 5 to 6 percent was captured; the rest was flushed into the sea due to environmental regulations aimed at protecting endangered fish species.
Critics from both political parties have urged Newsom to enhance water capture efforts. U. S. Representative Jim Costa advised increasing water pumping without harming endangered species, while Assemblyman Vince Fong emphasized the need for water storage to support farmers and communities. There is a call for new water reservoirs, as most current ones were built decades ago, but no new projects have been completed despite funding from 2014.
Some lawmakers are also suggesting desalination plants as a solution. Assemblyman Bill Essayli argued that the lack of commitment to solving water issues and the resistance from environmental groups hinder progress on new water storage projects.
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