Drought’s Impact Less Severe This Year, UC Davis Report Says

California still faces drought conditions, but the impact on agriculture this year is less severe than it was the previous two years, according to the annual report from UC Davis. The report, released Monday, said the wetter winter and spring helped the state partially replenish surface water storage and increased recharge to some aquifers. Still, statewide storage in reservoirs remains below historical average and groundwater is substantially overdrawn in many areas.The report estimates the 2016 drought will result in $247 million loss of farm­gate revenues as well as 1,815 full and part time jobs statewide.