SACRAMENTO, CA, Nov. 16, 2015 -- As California prepares for a fifth year of drought, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an executive order on Nov. 13 that calls for additional actions to build on the state's ongoing response to record dry conditions and assist recovery efforts from this year's devastating wildfires.
California's Drought Response
Governor Brown declared a drought state of emergency in January 2014 and directed state agencies to take all necessary actions to respond to drought conditions. In April, Governor Brown announced the first-ever 25 percent statewide mandatory water reductions and a series of actions to help save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state's drought response and invest in new technologies that will make California more drought resilient. Californians have responded with unprecedented conservation efforts, exceeding the Governor's water reduction order for a fourth consecutive month.
To date, guided by the California Water Action Plan, the state has committed hundreds of millions of dollars -- including Water Bond funds -- to emergency drought relief, disaster assistance, water conservation and infrastructure projects across the state. Efforts are also underway to establish a framework for sustainable, local groundwater management for the first time in California's history based on legislation signed by Governor Brown last year.
In October, Governor Brown declared a state of emergency on the unprecedented tree die-off and sought federal action to help mobilize additional resources for the safe removal of dead and dying trees, building on provisions in the April 2014 executive order to redouble the state's drought response.
To learn more about the state's drought response, visit: Drought.CA.Gov.
