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Which California lakes are best to visit this summer? Here are 50 close to the Bay Area
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Men fish near Pleasure Cove at Lake Berryessa, which is in better shape than nearby Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino.John Storey / Special to the ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
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Two men fish near Pleasure Cove Marina at Lake Berryessa in Napa, Calif. on March 6th, 2021John Storey / Special to the ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
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With catastrophic drought forecast this summer, more than 50 recreational lakes across the state will look like silver dollars in a field of pennies for people hoping to escape the heat.
Entire Bay Area has gone from severe to extreme drought levels in just 2 weeks
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The drought situation in the Bay Area has officially gone from bad to worse.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire Bay Area is now in the “extreme” drought category, along with nearly three-quarters of California. According to the latest summary, precipitation in the state for the water year that began Oct. 1 is well below normal, in the bottom 10th percentile, and the greater Bay Area is “experiencing record or near-record dryness.”
A week ago, parts of Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties hadn’t quite reached that designation yet, and the week before that, most of the Bay Area was in the “severe” drought category.
Marin County water district to consider more drought restrictions this week
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The water level is low at Phoenix Lake in Kentfield. Marin County may further restrict use.Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
After recently approving the Bay Area’s first widespread restrictions on water customers amid worsening drought conditions, officials with the Marin Municipal Water District will vote Tuesday on imposing more.
The district’s board will vote on limiting overhead sprinkler irrigation to two days per week and requiring covers for recreational pools and spas “to reduce water loss through evaporation,” officials said.
The district was the first major water agency in the Bay Area to order some drought restrictions two weeks ago, including prohibiting some residents from washing their cars and power-washing their homes or their driveways. Violating the restrictions can carry fines up to $250.
“The Senate’s proposed drought package will help ensure safe and affordable drinking water for all Californians who are most at risk during drought and makes significant investments in proven water supply solutions, like improving water use efficiency and water recycling. This package steers California in the right direction as we face dry conditions this year and prepare for more frequent and severe droughts as a result of climate change.” Tracy Quinn
, Director of California Urban Water Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council
“We applaud Senate President Pro Tem Atkins for bringing a comprehensive drought package to the Legislature that recognizes the critical needs people and nature are confronting in California right now,” said Jay Ziegler, Policy Director for The Nature Conservancy. “The budget plan will help ensure that safe, affordable drinking water is available to all Californians, while also providing immediate investments in science to measure droug
As dry, windy weather rears head, state firefighters want residents on high alert
This week marks Wildfire Preparedness Week; state crews are taking advantage by hosting wildfire preparedness events.
The first will be Monday morning in Orinda at the East Bay Municipal Utility District near the San Pablo Reservoir.
Local agencies are already working to spread awareness. In the Moraga Orinda district, the fire department created a pilot ambassador program, where volunteers will go door to door to help spread wildfire awareness education.
Parts of California are under a red flag warning, including Solano County.
Crews there spent the weekend fighting fires; the state has already seen more than 1,300 fires.