They're looking to get the water into the aquifers underground. Reservoirs tend to lose by evaporation.

The worst part is that all this rain promotes heavy vegetation which becomes a fodder for the summer and autumn fires..

California is prioritizing groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, water conveyance improvements and ambitious targets to build water resilience

State has committed more than $8.6 billion to build water resilience in the last two budgets and the 2023-24 budget proposal includes an additional $202 million for flood protection
SACRAMENTO – California is taking urgent action to protect communities from climate-driven extremes in weather and expand the state’s capacity to capture storm runoff in wet years.
5 Ways California is Storing Water from Winter Storms

“California isn’t waiting to act – we’re moving aggressively to modernize how we capture and store water to future-proof our state against more extreme cycles of wet and dry,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We’re expediting projects across the state to maximize stormwater capture and storage above and below ground during times like these, reshaping our water systems for the 21st century and beyond.”

Leveraging the more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, the state is taking aggressive action to prepare for the impacts of climate-driven extremes in weather on the state’s water supplies:

Advancing clear, ambitious targets to build drought and flood resilience, including increasing annual groundwater recharge capacity by 500,000 acre-feet
Fast-tracking groundwater recharge efforts by streamlining permits
Maximizing stormwater capture through new projects
Supporting reservoir repair and expansion to boost water storage above and below ground
Modernizing water conveyance Infrastructure across the state, including the Delta Conveyance Project

This budget funding includes $500 million that will be provided in 2025-26 to help ensure strategic water storage projects can be completed. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought related actions.

FACT SHEET:

6 Ways California is Harnessing Winter
Storms to Boost Water Supplies

● California is boosting water supplies through groundwater recharge,
stormwater capture, reservoir storage, water conveyance
improvements and ambitious targets to build water resilience

● California has committed $8.6 billion to build water resilience in the
last two state budgets, and the 2023-24 budget proposal includes an
additional $202 million for flood protection
To help California cope with more extreme droughts and floods driven by climate
change, Governor Newsom and the Legislature have committed more than $8.6
billion in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience across the state and
protect communities on the front lines of extreme weather.
This budget funding includes $500 million that will be provided in 2025-26 to help
ensure strategic water storage projects can be completed.
In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202
million for flood protection and $125 million for drought related actions.

The state is advancing targeted investments and aggressive action:
● Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to capture and conserve more water
● Advance ambitious targets to build water resilience across the state
● Fast-track groundwater recharge projects
● Maximize stormwater capture
● Expand storage above and below ground
● Modernize conveyance infrastructure to capture more storm runoff