Summary
L.A. is in good shape for the rest of the year. The city has been hit hard by the drought. The drought is expected to last until next year. It was only two years ago that Angelenos were experiencing a devastating three-year stretch of drought. The city has used the wet reprieve to make progress on some of its marquee water projects. "The potential of what we can do is just so much more," a water expert says. But he says too much of the work is too far from completion. L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia recently warned residents that the city is facing a $476 million budget deficit. The Metropolitan Water District, meanwhile, recently announced that it will increase rates and property taxes. There is a 65% chance that La Niña will develop by August, and an 85% chance it will be here by early winter. Mono Lake has seen a 5-foot elevation increase since 2022 thanks to consistent winter storms.
