Daniel Swain in KQED: Drought-Stricken California Hasn’t Mandated Statewide Water Restrictions. Here’s Why

Former Gov. Jerry Brown required Californians to conserve 25% of their water during the third year of the last major drought. State leaders have not yet taken that step during this year. The last multi-year drought lasted from 2011 to 2017. If it is any indicator of what could happen this time around, then all water restrictions should be taken seriously. That’s because the outlook for a wet winter is likely still less then 50-50, says UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain.