As did trees and other vegetation lol. I would not grow hops anywhere in California for fear of neighborhood stink-eye regarding water use.
Tell that to Sierra Nevada.
Not sure they are interested in my opinion. So have I missed something? The drought is over? People are watering their lawns and such?
Spring Last year was wet in Northern CA. That is why they had fires in Sonoma and Napa, the growth died out and was fuel for the fires.
How wet, well the reservoirs that were almost empty filled to capacity. The tallest dam in the USA, Oroville Dam, almost failed when they had to run the spillway at high volumes. The town was briefly under evacuation orders.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article198679674.htmlThe straight is not completely over. The snow pack was below average this year, the last time I checked. The aquifers still need several wet years to recharge.
They still grow almonds, rice, and other crops that need a lot of water.