Water Year 2017: What a Difference a Year Makes

Water year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017) dramatically illustrated the variability in California’s annual precipitation, ending the state’s 5-year drought and coming in at second place for statewide runoff, behind the wettest year of 1983. Virtually all of the state experienced at least average precipitation, and key Sierra Nevada watersheds were much above average.

Governor Brown lifted the proclamation of statewide drought emergency he issued in 2014, although the state-declared emergency remained in selected central California counties experiencing lingering drought impacts. Prior to 2017, California had experienced a decade of largely dry conditions. Eight of the ten preceding water years were dry, and the water years of 2012-15 set a record for the driest consecutive four-year period of statewide precipitation.