Federal reductions to critical services threaten public safety as flood season gets underway in California

Reduced storm monitoring

Due to federal reductions and staffing shortages, the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC), a decades-long partnership between California and the National Weather Service (NWS), will be unable to provide the same level of service to California as in previous years.

Traditionally, CNRFC has provided forecasts every six hours during large storm events. This may be reduced to once daily, limiting the state’s ability to track potential to dangerous shifts in weather.

Hydrologists and water managers at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Flood Operations Center and local water agencies rely on these forecasts to monitor impacts from storms and protect downstream communities from flooding. DWR, along with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), also use these forecasts to pre-position rescue teams, identify at-risk neighborhoods, and coordinate the safe movement of vulnerable populations before floodwaters become life-threatening.

Accurate, up-to-date river modeling is critical for first responders — depriving them of that information increases the potential loss of life, and property in flood-prone communities.

Reduced water storage

California’s storm season is also a critical time of year when water managers need to capture, move, and store as much water as possible for the dry summer months. As reservoir inflow forecasts from CNFRC become less accurate, that compromises the ability to safely manage reservoirs. Water managers may not be able to effectively move supplies downstream into south-of-Delta reservoirs or groundwater recharge basins. This will mean less water supply come summer for California’s communities in Southern California and the agriculture industry in the Central Valley.

Federal cuts also threaten key data about California’s snowpack, increasing water management uncertainty and spring flood risk assessment. For example, federal cuts have greatly diminished the ability for federal entities to conduct snow surveys, which tell water managers how much spring runoff may be coming out of the mountains and into our streams, rivers, and reservoirs. The reduction accounts for a third of the state’s manually measured snow courses. This will lead to significantly less accurate water supply forecasts and present challenges for water allocations next year.

California’s proactive water strategy

In contrast to the Trump Administration’s inaction, Governor Newsom has advanced efforts to improve and expand California’s water supply – including through new infrastructure and water storage – and to prepare the state for flooding. This week, the Governor announced early, proactive efforts to pre-deploy specialized emergency response crews to help protect communities in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and Santa Barbara counties. DWR has also pre-positioned flood-fighting materials across 33 counties including 4.3 million sandbags and 191 containers full of flood-fighting supplies needed to help protect communities from damaging flood waters.

In August, California committed an additional $219 million to the Sites Reservoir project. Sites Reservoir is a key component of the Governor’s water strategy and will capture water from the Sacramento River during wet seasons and store it for use during drier seasons – holding up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, enough to supply over 4.5 million homes for a year. The project will help California maintain a resilient water supply in the face of climate change, weather extremes, and water scarcity.

In addition to surface water storage, the Newsom Administration is improving California’s underground water storage. Data from DWR confirms that the state’s aquifers are improving year after year thanks to state efforts to capture and store more high flows during winter storms in groundwater basins, expand recharge basins, improve groundwater monitoring, and coordinate among local agencies to reduce groundwater pumping.

Flood Preparedness

Stay alert and be ready

Governor Gavin Newsom urges all Californians to stay alert and take proactive steps to stay safe as heavy rain and flooding impact the state this week. Protect yourself and your loved ones by following these official California safety recommendations:

• Sign up for emergency alerts and follow instructions from local officials.
• Prepare an emergency go-bag with essential supplies, water, medication, and important documents. Find a full checklist here.
• Stay off the roads whenever possible. If travel is unavoidable, check real-time conditions and drive at reduced speeds, avoiding standing water or debris on the roadway.
• Never walk or drive through floodwaters—turn around, don’t drown. Even six inches of moving water can sweep a person off their feet, and as little as one foot can carry a vehicle away.
• Avoid parking under trees or power lines during high winds or heavy rain, as saturated soil can cause trees to uproot or fall unexpectedly.
• If you see a downed power line, always assume it is energized—stay back at least 30 feet and call 9-1-1 or your utility provider.
• Check on neighbors, especially older adults or those with disabilities or access and functional needs, to ensure they are safe.
• Stay updated on storm impacts and emergency information at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services or prepare ahead through Listos California.