January 17, 2014 Jerry Brown announced California had entered a drought. Now in the beginning of 2017, California is beginning to heal with every rainstorm. The Mercury News states, as of January 5, “58 percent of California was classified as being in severe drought, down from 88 percent a year ago.” Even though this means that more than half of California is still in a severe drought, the dry spell is getting better, not worse. The sunny state also has experienced loads of rain and hail this past week, there have even been flood warnings sent out. These usually abnormal weather patterns are continuing to solve the drought issue, one drop at a time.

“During times of drought, vegetation is visibly dry, stream and river flows decline, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall, and the depth to water in wells increases”, the United States Geological Survey states. Meanwhile, California citizens are trying to use less water by shortening shower time, only using the dishwasher/washing machine when it is completely full, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, and by only watering lawns and gardens early in the morning or late at night when the temperature decreases.

All these actions and rainstorms are helping with the end of the California drought. Popular Science comments, “And although this year’s storms are intense and seemingly unceasing, they are not hitting all parts of the state equally.” While it great to have all these storms in parts of California, they will not end the dry spell. Citizens must continue to save water and hope for more rain if the California drought is ever going to end.