California expands drought emergency, covering 30% of population
May 10, 2021 / 9:46 PM / AP California governor expands drought emergency
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday expanded a drought emergency to a large swath of the nation s most populous state while seeking more than $6 billion in multiyear water spending as one of the warmest, driest springs on record threatens another severe wildfire season across the American West.
The Democratic governor said he is acting amid acute water supply shortages in northern and central parts of California as he called again for voluntary conservation. Yet the state is in relatively better shape than it was when the last five-year drought ended in 2017, he said, as good habits have led to a 16% reduction in water usage.
One of the warmest, driest springs on record threatens another severe wildfire season across American West
Gov. Newsom said he is acting amid acute water supply shortages in northern and central parts of California
Stark images of boat docks sitting on dry earth next to the largely barren Folsom Lake sheds light on the extent of California s drought. The reservoir s water levels have fallen by 50 per cent
Emergency declaration now includes 41 of 58 counties, covering 30 per cent of California s 40m population
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday significantly expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties where accelerated action is needed to protect public health, safety and the environment.
In total, 41 counties including Lake are now under a drought state of emergency, representing 30 percent of the state’s population.
Climate change-induced early warm temperatures and extremely dry soils have further depleted the expected runoff water from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unanticipated reductions in the amount of water flowing to major reservoirs, especially in Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties.
Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday significantly expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties where accelerated action is needed to protect public health, safety and the environment.
In total, 41 counties are now under a drought state of emergency, representing 30 percent of the state’s population.
Early warm temperatures and extremely dry soils have further depleted the expected runoff water from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unanticipated reductions in the amount of water flowing to major reservoirs, especially in Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties, according to Newsom.