For the last 5 years, California has experienced one of the worst droughts in its history. Water restrictions and schedules have become the norm, and local farmers have had to get creative in order to help their businesses turn a profit.
Fortunately, things are starting to look up, due to this winter’s unusual amount of precipitation. It is 120 percent higher than usual, according to the Washington Post. Snow levels in the high country are breaking records, and most of Northern California is now considered drought-free. We won’t know the impact on groundwater levels for the next few months, but according to experts, only 24% of California is now experiencing drought, a huge improvement compared to the 94% of the state experiencing drought conditions at this same time last year.
While these statistics are encouraging, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re out of the woods yet. This is great news for local farmers and businesses that operate in the agricultural sector, but as you probably expected, one rainy season isn’t going to be enough to solve all of California’s water problems. Ground water levels take years to recharge, and we’ll need a few more winters worth of heavy precipitation to make up for what’s been lost during the last half-decade.
For the time being, water restrictions are still in effect, but by summer those may be rolled back. We are in a bounce back year, which is great news for the Central Valley agricultural community, and we’re hoping to see that continue in the years to come.
If you work in agriculture in the Bakersfield, Fresno or Ventura areas, Greg’s Petroleum Service is a local commercial fuel and lubricants supplier focused on driving value for our customers. Give us a call at 661.725.2078.