Executive Order Calls for Immediate State Action to Address Crisis

 

Citing increasingly dry conditions and court-ordered restrictions on water deliveries, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger formally declared a statewide drought on June 4 and issued an executive order directing state agencies to take action to respond to the crisis.

 

Speaking at a Capitol press conference, Schwarzenegger said he wanted to put Californians on notice that the state faces serious water problems that require immediate attention. He called on local water agencies to work with the state to help residents reduce water use this year and prepare for a dry 2009.

 

“For the areas in Northern California that supply most of our water, this March, April and May have been the driest ever in our recorded history,” Schwarzenegger said. “As a result, some local governments are rationing water, developments can’t proceed and agricultural fields are sitting idle. We must recognize the severity of the crisis we face, so I am signing an executive order proclaiming a statewide drought and directing my Department of Water Resources and other entities to take immediate action to address the situation.”

 

The governor also renewed his call for members of the Legislature to work together to put a comprehensive water bond on the November ballot to improve the state’s water supply system. “Hopefully the legislators will get the point. The longer we wait, the worse the situation gets,” he said.

 

The executive order directs DWR to take the following actions:

• Facilitate water transfers to respond to emergency shortages across the state.
• Work with local water districts and agencies to improve local coordination.
• Help local water districts and agencies improve water efficiency and conservation.
• Coordinate with other state and federal agencies and departments to assist water suppliers, identify risks to water supplies and help farmers suffering losses.
• Expedite existing grant programs to help local water districts and agencies conserve.

DWR Director Lester Snow said the purpose of the executive order is to put programs in place to avoid the need for mandatory rationing statewide and prepare for a potential third year of drought in 2009. He noted that some local agencies have already instituted rationing and more may need to do so. Though the governor has the authority to take actions necessary to protect the economy and the environment, Snow said, the point is “to put programs in place to avoid that action.”

 

Snow said the governor may still make emergency declarations on a regional basis as needed, noting that the San Joaquin Valley is of particular concern right now.

 

Also today, ACWA announced that it is partnering with DWR and the California Water Awareness Campaign to conduct an aggressive public outreach effort on the need to conserve water this summer. ACWA will be working with member agencies throughout the state to help raise public awareness and coordinate efforts to urge consumers to reduce water use.

 

More on the governor’s announcement is available at http://www.gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/9796/.

 

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