California Drought

California is experiencing the worst drought in its history, and the effects are being felt nationwide. Thus water issues have taken center stage in much of our reporting and the nation's.As the New York Times says, "Water has long been a precious resource in California, the subject of battles pitting farmer against city-dweller and northern communities against southern ones; books and movies have been made about its scarcity and plunder. Water is central to the state’s identity and economy, and a symbol of how wealth and ingenuity have tamed nature ..."As we continue through a fourth year of extreme drought conditions, you'll find all of our reporting on the related issues (and that of NPR and other member stations) in this centralized place.

Could California Ease Its Drought By Capturing More Rain?

Published October 21, 2015 at 11:20 AM PDT

Heavy rains and large surf pounded the West Coast as a product of El Nino in December 2002. Another El Nino is supposed to hit the area, leaving many wondering how to store the rain for drier times. Here, Encinitas fireman Mike Kemp adjusts his hood as a wave crashes over a sea wall December 20, 2002 in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California as firemen worked to help clear flooded buildings. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

The predicted El Niño that would bring heavy rainfall to California won’t bring an end to the drought there, so the state is looking for better ways to conserve and manage water. Los Angeles and other cities across the country are looking at ways to capture rainwater to add it to the water supply.

Robert Glennon is a professor of law and public policy at the University of Arizona and author of the book “Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to Do About It.” Here & Now‘s Robin Young speaks with him about how California can go about capturing rainwater.

Guest

Robert Glennon, professor of law and public policy at the University of Arizona and author of the book “Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to Do About It.”