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Schwarzenegger Declares California Drought Emergency
SAMANTHA YOUNG | February 27, 2009 08:27 PM EST | AP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/27/schwarzenegger-declares-c_n_170693.
html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of
emergency Friday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall
in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use
by 20 percent.

"This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our
communities, our economy and our environment, making today's action
absolutely necessary," the Republican governor said in his statement.

Mandatory rationing is an option if the declaration and other measures are
insufficient.

The drought has forced farmers to fallow their fields, put thousands of
agricultural workers out of work and led to conservation measures in cities
throughout the state, which is the nation's top agricultural producer.

Agriculture losses could reach $2.8 billion this year and cost 95,000 jobs,
said Lester Snow, the state water director.

State agencies must now provide assistance for affected communities and
businesses and the Department of Water Resources must protect supplies, all
accompanied by a statewide conservation campaign.

Three dry winters have left California's state- and federally operated
reservoirs at their lowest levels since 1992.

Federal water managers announced last week that they would not deliver any
water this year to thousands of California farms, although that could
change if conditions improve. The state has said it probably would deliver
just 15 percent of the water contractors have requested this year.
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Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in June but stopped short of
calling a state of emergency. His 2008 executive order directed the state
Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the
worst shortages and help local water districts with conservation efforts.

Over the last few weeks, storms have helped bring the seasons' rain totals
to 87 percent of average, but the Sierra snowpack remains at 78 percent of
normal for this time of year. State hydrologists say the snowpack must
reach between 120 to 130 percent of normal to make up for the two previous
dry winters and replenish California's key reservoirs.

Court decisions intended to protect threatened fish species also have
forced a significant cutback in pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
delta, the heart of the state's delivery system.

The governor, farmers and lawmakers have argued for years that California
must upgrade its decades-old water supply and delivery system and build new
reservoirs.

"The situation is extremely dire," said Tim Quinn, executive director of
the Association of California Water Agencies, adding that the governor's
action Friday "underscores the urgency of serving the long-term structural
problems."

The state delivers water to more than 25 million Californians and more than
750,000 acres of farmland.

Schwarzenegger's order leaves the door open for more severe restrictions
later. Additional measures can include mandatory water rationing and water
reductions if there is no improvement in water reserves and residents fail
to conserve on their own.

At least 25 water agencies throughout the state already have imposed
mandatory restrictions, while 66 others have voluntary measures in place.

The state prefers such local efforts so it does not have to call for
statewide rationing, Snow said.

The federal government on Thursday created a drought task force to provide
farmers technical assistance in managing existing water supplies. Farmers
also could be eligible for federally-backed emergency loans.

Almond farmer Shawn Coburn of Mendota said the emergency declaration comes
too late for many growers who already are halfway through the season. Some
farmers didn't bring in bees to pollinate, while others sprayed their
orchards with chemicals that keep nuts from forming.

"It's too late," he said. "It's going to sound horrible coming from a
farmer because you never turn down help, but come on, this thing is over
with."