[M T]

Btw, re: "California water officials think we'll be back in a drought".  As I read the free part of that article, it is not that they think we'll be back in a drought, it is that they warn California COULD go back into a drought.  Officials need to plan for the full range of possibilities.  It is appropriate that they warn and consider the possibility of a drought even if they don't plan for one.

So, stepping back and thinking about this a second.  After two wet years (and an exceptionally hot, typically dry, summer), we are only a bit above historical averages. 

What I wish I knew (current & historical):
  How much water was let out of the reservoirs (making room for incoming water) that could have been saved had there been more storage.
  How is the water being used:  Household water, industrial water, farming, ecological usage (preserving estuaries, etc), runoff to the ocean, power generation, etc.
  If no rain or snow fell, how long do the reservoirs last.

Is the historical average meaningful when we draw down more water today (than in the years comprising the average) for the ways it is being used  (such as increase in population, household irrigation, farm irrigation, etc.)

Using the charts linked from https://cdec.water.ca.gov/water_cond.html
I find the data in the "Current Water Year <location> Precipitation Index Chart" interesting to consider.
Averaging the last two years versus the Average (1991-2020) rainfall:
Northern Sierra:  57.4  vs  53.2   (+4.2 = +7.9%)
San Joaquin:  48.8 vs 39.9  (+ 8.9 = +22.3%)
Tulare Basin:  38.5 vs 28.3  (+ 10.2 = +36.0%)

This year's snowpack (dark blue line in "Current Year Regional Snow Sensor Water Content Chart") tracked the "average" quite closely for North, Central, and South.  Last year's (yellow) was about double the average.  Averaging over the two years would be about 50% above average.

And, yet, here we are, being concerned about a possible lower than average year....

[M T]

Btw, re: "California water officials think we'll be back in a drought".  As I read the free part of that article, it is not that they think we'll be back in a drought, it is that they warn California COULD go back into a drought.  Officials need to plan for the full range of possibilities.  It is appropriate that they warn and consider the possibility of a drought even if they don't plan for one.

So, stepping back and thinking about this a second.  After two wet years (and an exceptionally hot, typically dry, summer), we are only a bit above historical averages. 

What I wish I knew (current & historical):
  How much water was let out of the reservoirs (making room for incoming water) that could have been saved had there been more storage.
  How is the water being used:  Household water, industrial water, farming, ecological usage (preserving estuaries, etc), runoff to the ocean, power generation, etc.
  If no rain or snow fell, how long do the reservoirs last.

Is the historical average meaningful when we draw down more water today (than in the years comprising the average) for the ways it is being used  (such as increase in population, household irrigation, farm irrigation, etc.)

Using the charts linked from https://cdec.water.ca.gov/water_cond.html
I find the data in the "Current Water Year <location> Precipitation Index Chart" interesting to consider.
Averaging the last two years versus the Average (1991-2020) rainfall:
Northern Sierra:  57.4  vs  53.2   (+4.2 = +7.9%)
San Joaquin:  48.8 vs 39.9  (+ 8.9 = +22.3%)
Tulare Basin:  38.5 vs 28.3  (+ 10.2 = +36.0%)

This year's snowpack (dark blue line in "Current Year Regional Snow Sensor Water Content Chart") tracked the "average" quite closely for North, Central, and South.  Last year's (yellow) was about double the average.  Averaging over the two years would be about 50% above average.

And, yet, here we are, being concerned about a possible lower than average year....