… With back-to-back atmospheric rivers poised to dump up to 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevadas and bring as much as 15 inches of rain to northern areas, California faces a familiar paradox: When it rains, it pours. Yet, water remains scarce when it’s needed most. Why? Because balancing environmental sustainability with agricultural and human needs has been an ongoing challenge in state policies. For example, substantial amounts of this precipitation are diverted to support fish populations, leaving the Central Valley – one of the nation’s most vital agricultural hubs – crippled by chronic water shortages, depleted groundwater, and rising unemployment.