Californians have made progress in conserving water, statistics show

FRESNO - Water regulators in California on Wednesday extended what are now largely symbolic conservation measures lingering from the drought after the state has seen one of the wettest winters in years.
They will retain the measures at least until spring as a precaution against the possible return of dry weather — even as another major storm bears down on the state.
"I don't think there's just one way to go," Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Re- sources Control Board, said after several local water districts urged members to lift the regulations. "The better decision is to extend it and see later where we are."
The regulations are largely symbolic because roughly 80 percent California water districts say they have ample supplies and aren't requiring residents to cut back on usage of water.
The regulations require water districts to make monthly reports on their water use and prohibit residents from wasting water, such as washing sidewalks with a hose and turning on sprinklers after it rains.
Californians heeded the call to conserve water during the height of the five-year drought. But opponents of the regulations say weather has dramatically changed.
"Here in San Diego County, we are not experiencing drought conditions. Many areas of the state are not," said Dana Friehauf, water resources manager of the San Diego County Water...