Why California Can’t Go Back to ‘Normal’ After Drought

California’s five-year drought was officially declared to be over in April. By many measures, it was the worst drought in the state’s recorded history. And it was brought to an end by one of the wettest single winters ever. As a result, most water agencies across the state have dropped their emergency water conservation rules. And, presumably, life will get back to normal in that interface between people and water. But is the drought really over? And even if it is, should we allow life to return to “normal”?