After many long years of waiting, California’s drought relief may finally be here. Snow has piled up over five feet in some parts of the Sierra Nevada since the Sunday storm. And while the first snow survey of the year actually came in below average in terms of snow accumulation, there are reasons for optimism. “Right now we are on pace to have the wettest water year on record,” said forecaster Mike Kochasic with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, referencing conditions in Northern California.

Just Google “atmospheric river” and – BAM! – the doom and gloom is in your face: “Atmospheric river will blast California with heavy rain and snow ‘measured in feet”! “Risk of significant California flooding”! “California will be pummeled”! So what is this big bad “river” in the sky that the meteorologists and their media waterboys keep screaming will be upon us starting this weekend? And must they really make it look as if the sky were, well, falling? News reports are warning us to brace for both flood-worthy rainfall and a ton of snow in the Sierras.

Kale or quinoa? Free range chicken or seasonal veggie medley? Pellegrino or recycled water? Californians could soon start drinking purified wastewater. In response to a five-year drought, the State Water Resources Control Board recently informed legislators that regulating recycled, drinkable water is perfectly feasible. California would be the first state in the nation to implement such regulations.

Two storms aimed at California are lined up back to back this week — the first is ongoing, and the second more significant storm is slated to arrive this weekend. On the one hand, wet and snowy weather is “normal” for winter in California. On the other, the state is still struggling with a historic drought, and it hasn’t seen storms like these in years.

Two weeks before President Barack Obama leaves office, his administration vowed to move full speed ahead on California’s controversial Delta tunnels project, calling it essential for the state’s water supply as well as its environment. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell issued an order Wednesday directing federal officials to complete a preliminary environmental review this month of the massive twin tunnels proposed for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.