The Daily

The California Floods

Jan 12, 2023

Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter for The New York Times, sheds light on California's recent flooding crisis amidst its historic drought. He discusses how past water management practices have exacerbated current flooding and highlights the failure to adapt to 21st-century climate challenges. Flavelle advocates for innovative solutions, including reimagining land use for rivers and urgent strategic planning to tackle both drought and flooding. Listening in, you'll grasp the intricate dance between climate change and California's approach to water resource management.

26:49

Creator website

Episode guests

Christopher Flavelle

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Central Valley Project

00:31

Intro

1min

California's Flood Crisis

6min

Water Management Challenges in California's Central Valley

10min

Understanding California's Flooding Crisis and the Challenge of Nature

4min

Adapting Flood Management in California

4min

Impending Rain and Political Controversies in California

3min

For weeks, a string of major storms have hit California, causing extreme flooding. While it might seem as if rain should have a silver lining for a state stuck in a historic drought, the reality is far more complicated.

Today, how California’s water management in the past has made today’s flooding worse and why it represents a missed opportunity for the future of the state’s water crisis.

Guest: Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

In the wake of recent storms, California is facing questions about whether its approach to handling crippling storms is suited to 21st-century climate threats.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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