In 2014, California voters approved billions of dollars for infrastructure that would catch and store much-needed water from winter storms. Nearly ten years later, none of the major storage projects have gotten off the ground. Critics lament the missed opportunity to capture more of the record storm runoff. Large infrastructure projects take years of design and permitting and are not easy to build. Still, some say progress has been too slow given the dire need for water. Some water experts warn reservoirs may not be the panacea that advocates hope for, because rain levels are unpredictable, and say replenishing underground aquifers may be a better alternative.
