SHV (ASX) California drought

@LightForce - interesting article, which basically outlines the crucial differences between senior and junior water rights - and the differences between Northern, Central and South California.

From a water (recovery) perspective I believe that Northern California will do okay next year, but Central and Southern California will continue to suffer from drought implications, as inflow from the Colorado river is still very low...illustrated by the low level of Lake Mead. Quite interesting to read the below long term considerations from Wiki (some copied in below)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River#Uncertain_future

The most severe drought on record began in the early 21st century, in which the river basin produced normal or above-average runoff in only four years between 2000 and 2012.^[249] Major reservoirs in the basin dropped to historic lows,^[250] with Lake Powell falling to just one-third of capacity in early 2005, the lowest level on record since the reservoir was first filling in 1969.^[251] The watershed is experiencing a warming trend, which is accompanied by earlier snowmelt and a general reduction in precipitation. A 2004 study showed that a 1–6 percent decrease of precipitation would lead to runoff declining by as much as 18 percent by 2050.^[252] Average reservoir storage declined by at least 32 percent, further crippling the region's water supply and hydropower generation.^[253] A study by the Scripps Research Institute in 2008 predicted that both Lake Mead and Lake Powell stand an even chance of dropping to useless levels or "dead pool"^{[n 10]} by 2021 if current drying trends and water usage rates continue.^[255]
In late 2010, Lake Mead dropped to just 8 feet (2.4 m) above the first "drought trigger" elevation, a level at which Arizona and Nevada would have to begin rationing water as delineated by the Colorado River Compact.^[256] Despite above-average runoff in 2011 that raised the immense reservoir more than 30 feet (9.1 m),^[257]^[258] record drought conditions returned in 2012 and 2013.^[259] Reservoir levels were low enough at the beginning of water year 2014 that the Bureau of Reclamation cut releases from Lake Powell by 750,000 acre feet (930,000 ML) – the first such reduction since the 1960s, when Lake Powell was being filled for the first time.^[260] This resulted in Lake Mead dropping to its lowest recorded level since 1937, when it was first being filled.^[261] Rapid development and economic growth further complicate the issue of a secure water supply, particularly in the case of California's senior water rights over those of Nevada and Arizona: in case of a reduction in water supply, Nevada and Arizona would have to endure severe cuts before any reduction in the California allocation, which is also larger than the other two combined.^[246]^[262] Although stringent water conservation measures have been implemented, the threat of severe shortfalls in the Colorado River basin continues to increase each year.^[263]