Full Episode
Saturday, Oct 4
PBS NewsHour
  • Episodes
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • The Latest
  • Politics
    Politics
    • Brooks and Capehart
    • Politics Monday
    • Supreme Court
  • Arts
    Arts
    • CANVAS
    • Poetry
    • Now Read This
  • Nation
    Nation
    • Supreme Court
    • Race Matters
    • Essays
    • Brief But Spectacular
  • World
    World
    • Agents for Change
  • Economy
    Economy
    • Making Sen$e
    • Paul Solman
  • Science
    Science
    • The Leading Edge
    • ScienceScope
    • Basic Research
    • Innovation and Invention
  • Health
    Health
    • Long-Term Care
  • Education
    Education
    • Teachers' Lounge
    • Student Reporting Labs
  • For Teachers
    Education
    • Newshour Classroom
  • About
    • Feedback
    • Funders
    • Support
    • Jobs

A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy

Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue
Donate now
PBS News

Get news alerts from PBS News

Turn on desktop notifications?

california drought

  • Full Episodes
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • Live
The Merced River carries melted snow from the Sierra Nevada mountains through Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park

Science Apr 08

California’s reservoirs refill after historic storms, but snowmelt poses risks

By William Brangham, Harry Zahn

Nation Mar 03

Lake Powell reaches historic low levels as Colorado River is named the most endangered river in the United States
Farmers in dry western U.S. face new ways to save water

With drought, climate change and overuse of the Colorado River leading to increasingly dire conditions in the West, the federal Bureau of Reclamation is looking at fallowing as a way to cut water use.

By Suman Naishadham, Associated Press

Nation Feb 03

Colorado River Water Cuts
Watch 5:31
Western states that rely on Colorado River fail to reach agreement on cutting consumption

This was an important week in the battle out west over water use. Seven states along the Colorado River basin were supposed to reach a collective agreement on how to use less water from an ever-shrinking river, but they failed…

By William Brangham, Dorothy Hastings

Nation Jan 03

Snow and low clouds are seen on the San Jacinto Mountains in Palm Springs
California sees strong snowpack amid severe drought

Snowpack in California's mountains is off to one of its best starts in 40 years.

By Adam Beam, Associated Press

Nation May 23

A sprinkler irrigates a field where farm workers planted Novavine drought-resistant grapevines at a farm in Woodland, California, U.S. April 25, 2022. Photo by Fred Greaves/REUTERS
Californians could see mandatory water cuts amid continuing drought

The Democratic governor has called for a 15 percent voluntary reduction in water use but has so far avoided mandatory, sweeping cuts to water use. He may be changing his approach after water use went up dramatically in March.

By Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press

Apr 27

Watch 5:54
News Wrap: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy criticized Republicans after Jan. 6

In our news wrap Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy faces new disclosures that he criticized Republicans after Jan. 6, former President Trump appealed a New York court's contempt finding, a battle over Native American rights returned to the Supreme…

Continue watching

Mar 18

Drought-stricken California imposes new round of water cuts

By Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press

State water officials said Friday they'll only give 5 percent of requested water supplies to contractors of the State Water Project, which provides water for 27 million people and a swath of farmland.

Continue reading

Oct 26

Watch 4:55
Drought-stricken California faces rise in water theft by illegal marijuana farms

By Byrhonda Lyons, CalMatters

As California faces what is predicted to be one of its worst droughts in recorded history, water managers are seeing record increases in water theft, leaving communities angry and police chasing water bandits constantly on the move. Byrhonda Lyons of…

Continue watching

Jul 20

Watch 8:43
Californians scramble for fresh water as taps, wells run dry

By William Brangham, Sam Lane, Lena I. Jackson

The severe drought across the Western U.S. is already causing long term problems, exacerbated by the warming atmosphere driven by climate change. As William Brangham reports from California’s San Joaquin Valley, the demand for water has threatened the drinking supply…

Continue watching

Apr 21

California governor declares drought emergency in 2 counties

By Kathleen Ronayne, John Antczak, Associated Press

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a drought emergency in two Northern California counties as the state grapples with depleted water supplies after a dry winter.

Continue reading

Jump to the First Page Previous Page
1 2 3 4
Next Page Jump to the Last Page

Support Provided By: Learn more

web ad

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Form error message goes here.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Full Episode
Saturday, Oct 4
  • BDO
  • BNSF Railway
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Raymond James
  • Viewers Like You
  • Friends of the News Hour
PBS News

© 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Sections

  • The Latest
  • Politics
  • Arts
  • Nation
  • World
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Health
  • Education

About

  • About Us
  • TV Schedule
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Funders
  • Support
  • Newsletters
  • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • X
  • TikTok
  • Threads
  • RSS

Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins

Form error message goes here.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Support our journalism

Support for News Hour Provided By

  • BDO
  • BNSF Railway
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Raymond James
  • Viewers Like You