Environment News Service: After two straight years of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered water transfer restrictions in state history, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Wednesday proclaimed a statewide drought, the first official drought since 1991. The state's final snow survey of 2008 conducted in May showed snowpack water content at only 67 percent of normal and the runoff forecast at only 55 percent of normal. Numerous California communities now are being forced to mandate water conservation or rationing.The governor urged all Californians to conserve water and ordered the Department of Water Resources to begin transferring water to areas with the most critical need. "We must recognize the severity of the crisis we face," said Governor Schwarzenegger, "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 Executive Order directs the Department of Water Resources, DWR to facilitate water transfers to respond to emergency shortages across the state and expedite existing grant programs to help local water districts and agencies conserve. The DWR is directed to work with local water districts and agencies to improve local coordination and help local water districts and agencies improve water efficiency and conservation….
A photo of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Stefanie Broughton, Wikimedia Commons
No comments:
Post a Comment