http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Gov. Gavin Newsom officially ended the drought emergency declaration in 19 counties after two wet winters that refilled California’s reservoirs. The drought state of emergency remains in effect in 39 counties where state officials say significant effects of the severe 2020-22 drought continue, including depleted groundwater supplies and threats to native fish. The 39 counties include parts of the Central Valley and in the watersheds of the Scott, Shasta and Klamath rivers, and other areas. Los Angeles Times, Sept 4, 2024 Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency in California and urged more water conservation. “As the western U.S. faces a potential third year of drought, it’s critical that Californians across the state redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible,” the governor said. Fifty of the Golden State’s 58 counties have been in a state of drought emergency since July, and Gov. Newsom added the eight remaining counties and reiterated his call for water conservation of 15%. The State Water Resources Control Board is also free to adopt emergency regulations to forbid wasting water. State water officials announced that Californians had conserved just 5% of their water use in August, which was an improvement over July when water conservation amounted to 1.8%. Some parts of the state were conserving better than others. Local water suppliers must implement their water shortage contingency plans at “a level appropriate to local conditions that takes into account the possibility of a third consecutive dry year.” During the previous drought, Gov. Jerry Brown mandated water conservation of 25% in urban water use. Los Angeles Times (Calif.), Oct 19, 2021