Figure 2.4.9: California’s drought level at the first week of January, 2011-2015
2011
2012
2013
2014 Source: National Drought Mitigation Centre 2016
Droughts are projected to increase as a result of climate change associated with increases in temperature, evaporation, and changes in precipitation patterns. Although there may be some areas in which increases in precipitation
will lead to increased water availability, in other areas modest increases in precipitation will be offset by decreases in streamflow due to increased temperature. In the most arid parts of the western US, precipitation is projected to
