Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Help Water Agencies Prepare for Super El Nino by ACWA Staff Sep 21, 2026 News Releases SACRAMENTO – The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) thanks Gov. Gavin Newsom for issuing today’s state of emergency, which will help state and local agencies immediately launch flood protection work in advance of a widely forecasted severe El Niño storm season. The proclamation initiates a wide range of measures to protect California communities and infrastructure now in preparation for potentially heavy flooding this winter. This includes staging flood protection materials, advancing groundwater recharge projects, and enhancing coordination between state, federal and local governments. “Governor Newsom’s action today reflects his continued leadership to advance California’s resilience to increasingly volatile climate extremes,” said ACWA Executive Director Karla Nemeth. “Giving local water agencies the ability to take decisive action now will help them prepare and safeguard their communities, agricultural resources and public infrastructure from potentially catastrophic flooding.”
