Climate change is having a profound impact on California water resources, as evidenced by changes in snowpack, sea level, and river flows . These changes are expected to continue in the future and more of our precipitation will likely fall as rain instead of snow. This potential change in weather patterns will exacerbate flood risks and add additional challenges for water supply reliability.

Climate change is also expected to result in more variable weather patterns throughout California. More variability can lead to longer and more severe droughts. In addition, the sea level will continue to rise threatening the sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the heart of the California water supply system and the source of water for 25 million Californians and millions of acres of prime farmland.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is addressing these impacts through mitigation and adaptation measures to ensure that Californians have an adequate water supply, reliable flood control, and healthy ecosystems now and in the future.