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HISTORIC RAIN, YET DROUGHT REMAINS <br /> <br /> <br />ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY 2022 I 2023 Page 8 of 57 <br />climate drought trends, and today’s climatologists are predicting the same, punctuated <br />by infrequent periods of precipitation, like the precipitation events of this past winter <br />(2022-23). This all points to the current supplies of water not being dependable. <br />Key facts and predictions identified during interviews and the numerous climate articles <br />reviewed are: <br />• The current Western United States drought is the longest in 1,200 years <br />• The drought is likely to continue for the next 100 years. <br />• The current Southern California climate is characterized as “drought” but this is <br />likely to be interrupted by infrequent wet years. <br />• Human activities have affected the climate. The Southern California climate is <br />expected to enter a cooler phase based upon long-term historic trends, rather <br />than the current warming. <br />• Even if carbon emissions are suddenly decreased, the climate could take up to <br />100 years to adjust. <br />The following graph illustrates the current tendency of the climate. It shows five <br />categories: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming <br />out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). The darker the color, the deeper the <br />drought. It clearly shows increased and more frequent levels of drought for California. <br /> <br />Drought as the norm has reduced precipitation as a source of water and Orange County <br />needs to respond to it by providing a more drought resilient supply of water. <br />Water Demands <br />• In the past fifty years, California’s population has nearly doubled. Water is <br />needed, and expected, to sustain the current population in all aspects: quality of <br />life, commerce, industry, agriculture, etc., and promote growth and development. <br />However, current, and foreseeable circumstances regarding water availability