State leaders in California will push through with drought response despite the upcoming rainy spell.
The emergency related to drought in the whole of California was extended by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot told FOX40 that the state needs over a few rain events to survive the dry conditions.
“The depths of the challenge we face with this drought right now, our reservoirs, where a lot of our water supply is held, many are at their lowest levels in 40 years,” he said, as he reiterated the call of the governor for water conservation.
Newsom asked Californians to save 15 percent of water in August but residents only achieved 5 percent as the state is in its second year of drought.
The order, according to Crowfoot, remains voluntary.
“Californians are moving in the right direction and we are seeing increased water conservation,” he said.
The water board is set to determine what water uses are considered a wastage, and it should not be allowed during the drought.
“It’s going to do so based on a lot of analysis and likely some public hearings. That process is going to play out into early next year. Then we’ll be in a place if the drought persists and we don’t get really strong precipitation this winter, to prohibit those wasteful uses heading into 2022,” he said.
With the upcoming rain event especially in the northern part of California, residents are cautioned to be vigilant against damages, KRON4 reported.
“I want to ask everybody to be vigilant. Not only to conserve water because we’re in a drought but do be cognizant of flooding risks and take action and pay attention to your communities as they communicate what we can do to protect ourselves from flooding as well.”
The state has allotted about a $5.3 billion budget for its water projects and drought measures for the next three years.
