California’s Recurring Feature of Our Climate – Drought

More than eighty (80) percent of California is parched and suffering through exceptional drought conditions.

A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water or a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems. State experts say when rainfall is less than normal for several weeks, months, or years, the flow of streams and rivers declines, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall, and the depth to water in wells increases. If dry weather persists and water-supply problems develop, the dry period can become a drought.

The term “drought,” as posed to many professionals, can have different meanings, depending on how a water deficiency affects them. Droughts have been classified into different types such as: meteorological drought - lack of precipitation, agricultural drought - lack of soil moisture, or hydrologic drought - reduced streamflow or groundwater levels.

Most rain and snow fall in California from November through April. Officials say it fills the reservoirs and aquifers that are used to supply homes, businesses, and farms. It also supports fish and wildlife that depend on our rivers and wetlands.

Warm temperatures in California this April and early May make 2021 a critically dry year. Snow melted and runoff evaporated at a faster rate in the Sacramento, Feather, and American River watersheds.

As California’s drought conditions intensify, Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, calls on Californians to voluntary take action and reduce or conserve water usage by fifteen (15) percent with simple measures to protect water reserves if drought conditions continue and to help maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife wherever possible.

“The realities of climate change are nowhere more apparent than in the increasingly frequent and severe drought challenges we face in the West and their devastating impacts on our communities, businesses and ecosystems,” said Governor Newsom.

He said the entire state is in a drought today, and to meet this urgent challenge we must all pull together and do our part to reduce water use as California continues to build a more climate resilient water system to safeguard the future of our state. “We’re proud of the tremendous strides made to use water more efficiently and reduce water waste, but we can all find opportunities this summer to keep more water in reserve as this drought could stretch into next year and beyond,” he added.

Newsom signed the Executive Order N-10-21 and expanded the regional drought state of emergency to more counties, bringing total to fifty (50) counties across the state now under a drought state of emergency.

According to the order, state officials estimate an additional fifteen (15) percent voluntary reduction by urban water users from 2020 levels could save as much as 850,000 acre-feet of water over the next year for future use, or enough to supply more than 1.7 million households for a year.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced first round of funding commitments for $200 Million in Drought Funding to Support Small Communities: 10 Systems to Receive $25 Million for Immediate Relief

“Drought is a compounding stressor to already struggling and vulnerable drinking water systems in the state,” said Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the State Water Board. “DWR’s investments in critical water supply projects will provide much-needed emergency assistance as the state continues building the long-term resilience of our water systems. This new program also highlights the criticality of continued coordination between local, state and federal agencies to support communities that are responding to intensifying drought conditions.

The state continues to track drought conditions and said it’s committed to tackling the drought emergency while addressing long-standing water challenges.