California Ends One Of Driest-Ever 'Water Years' On Record
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California officials are urging residents and businesses to conserve water as the state ends one of the driest-ever "water years."
The California Department of Water Resources says the state received less than 60 percent of the average precipitation in the 2014 water year that ends Tuesday.
The department says the state's major reservoirs collectively held only 57 percent of average water storage on Sept. 1
Department Director Mark Cowin says day-to-day water conservation is essential because the state could face a fourth consecutive dry winter, which is typically California's rainy season.
Officials say recent storms haven't dented the state's drought and forecasters can't predict if California will get enough major storms to end the drought.
California's water year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.