Gavin Newsom on Monday declared a drought emergency in 41 counties, including areas of the Central Valley that had urged action on behalf of agricultural growers. Newsom’s proclamation dramatically expands the drought emergency he declared in Sonoma and Mendocino counties last month, and now covers 30% of the state’s population. Newsom said the emergency would “address acute drought impacts in Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties.” Last month’s declaration was aimed at severe drought conditions in the Russian River Watershed. Under the proclamation, state officials will consider ways to conserve water, improve water quality and move water to where it is needed most. That’s because the region is mostly supplied by big federal and state water systems, rather than local precipitations.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 10, 2021 22:17 UTC