Publication: NBC News

UCLA Expert: Daniel Swain: Assistant Researcher and Climate Specialist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: The idea of releasing water that will eventually flow into the Pacific during a time of drought may seem counterintuitive, but state officials said they have to prepare for the possibility of floods.  

UCLA News: "The primary management objective of flood operations is to reduce the risk of downstream flooding rather than conserve for the dry season to come," Swain, said. "It suggests that inflows are big enough and the reservoir levels are high enough that officials don't want any more water stored in them for safety reasons," he added.

Read more at NBC News.