The two immense public works projects that would be Jerry Brown legacies will soon face pivotal moments.

The years-long debates over a north-south bullet train and twin water tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have focused on whether they are needed, as Brown contends, to enhance the state’s future.

Ultimately, however, whether they fly or die depends on securing tens of billions of dollars in financing.

Just two months after Folsom Lake hit historically low depths, federal officials have increased water releases from the lake for flood control.

Folsom Lake has filled up at a near-unprecedented pace since early December, thanks to rain, snow and what had been a sharp curtailment on water releases because the drought had left the reservoir severely depleted. In recent weeks, regular rainfall and runoff from higher-than-average Sierra snowfall helped return the reservoir to above-average levels for this time of year.

While northern Santa Barbara County still hasn’t seen the heavy rainfall forecast for the El Nino weather phenomenon, the region could certainly get wetter as the historically wetter months approach.
“I wouldn’t call El Nino a bust until at least April,” said John Lindsey, Diablo Canyon Power Plant marine meteorologist.

All indicators point toward heavy rainfall this month and in March, which Lindsey said are typically when northern Santa Barbara County sees the heaviest rainfall.