Axios

With California’s mountains buried under a historically deep snowpack and more storms on the way, the latest drought outlook from NOAA shows continuing improvement in the state’s drought situation.

The big picture: California has long experienced sudden swings between drought and flood, but the rapid fire assault by about a dozen atmospheric river storm events since December is on the extreme end of weather whiplash.

Denver Parks and Recreation gave 35 bison to Native American tribes in three states this week, per multiple reports.

Why it matters: The donation is another step toward Indigenous people claiming back stewardship over animals their ancestors managed for centuries.

A bipartisan bill will be introduced Thursday by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) to re-up a program to foster next–generation agricultural research, including work to address the agriculture sector's ability to withstand extreme weather.

Driving the news: The bill, to be introduced Thursday morning, would increase the funding authorized for the program and expand its scope.

This year’s chairman’s letter from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, published Wednesday, gives less emphasis to climate risk and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments than past letters — but doesn't play down the substance.

Why it matters: As the head of the world's largest asset manager, Fink’s letters are widely taken as a signal for how the financial community is thinking about certain topics, and how policy makers may need to respond.

Winter storms helped alleviate water shortages in Southern California, bringing an end to emergency restrictions for some 7 million people, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California announced on Wednesday.

The big picture: After about a dozen atmospheric rivers brought record rain and snow to the Golden State so far this season, depleted reservoirs were restored and snowpack in the Sierra Nevada boosted, allowing the state to increase available water supply to Southern California, per the district.

California officials were responding to the effects of another powerful atmospheric river that swept through the state — unleashing more historic rainfall, heavy snow and flash flooding.

The big picture: Evacuation orders, along with flood watches, warnings and advisories, were still in effect in several areas of the Golden State as officials continued to deal with levee breaches and flooded roads after the storm passed Wednesday.

The National Audubon Society’s board of directors voted to keep the organization's name despite calls to cut ties with John James Audubon, a bird artist and enslaver the organization announced Wednesday.

The big picture: The decision follows a fierce debate over the past year and resulted in the society announcing a new $25 million commitment toward expanding equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging work.