Publication: Palm Springs Desert Sun

UCLA Expert: Gregory Pierce: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Luskin School of Public Affairs; Co-Director, Luskin Center for Innovation; Co-Director, UCLA Water Resources Group; Member, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Senior Researcher, Water and Transportation Initiatives

Synopsis: Coachella Valley water agencies are lifting some drought restrictions following an exceptionally wet winter. 

UCLA News: Pierce described the situation as “functionally we are in a long-term crisis and drought, and then the medium-term crises will come and go.” He said there’s logic to backing off some of the more extreme restrictions that were “necessary when we were in a state of triage and crisis,” but that any lifting of restrictions should be viewed as temporary. “We should continue to keep cutting water usage so we don’t have to scramble like we’ve done so many times in the past to adhere to these types of cuts. We shouldn’t let off the gas pedal, and hardening those cuts, or keeping them permanent will allow us to not be in crisis mode as much going forward.”

Read more at Palm Springs Desert Sun.