Governor, California Lawmakers Unveil $1B Emergency Drought-Relief Plan
The plan from the governor and Democratic legislative leaders comes after last year's $687 million drought-relief package
By Jonathan Lloyd and Wire Reports ••
Governor Jerry Brown released his emergency plan to help California’s drought crisis, and how it will impact all Californians. Patrick Healy reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
Drought-relief legislation providing about $1 billion in spending was proposed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders as California enters its fourth consecutive dry year near the end of what has been a dismal wet season.
California Department of Water Resources
The land sank so much at this location at the Delta-Mendota Canal that this bridge now nearly touches the water on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015.
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BIGGS, CA - MAY 08: A bi-plane from Williams Ag Service drops rice seeds on a field on May 8, 2015 in Biggs, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, a lack of water has rice farmers are cutting back on their annual plantings which has left many crop dusting and seed planting operations with half of the work as normal. According to the California Rice Commission, 434,000 acres of rice were planted in 2014 compared to 567,000 in the previous year. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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BIGGS, CA - MAY 08: Water is pumped into an irrigation canal on May 8, 2015 in Biggs, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, farmers are struggling to keep crops watered as wells run dry and government water allocations have been reduced or terminated. Many have opted to leave acres of their fields fallow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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A sign referencing the drought is posted next to a fallow field on April 24, 2015 in Lemoore, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, farmers in the Central Valley are struggling to keep crops watered as wells run dry and government water allocations have been reduced or terminated. Many have opted to leave acres of their fields fallow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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The California Aqueduct passes through the Dos Amigos pumping plant on April 24, 2015 in Los Banos, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, farmers in the Central Valley are struggling to keep crops watered as wells run dry and government water allocations have been reduced or terminated. Many have opted to leave acres of their fields fallow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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An irrigation canal stands dry on April 24, 2015 in Stratford, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, small Central Valley farming towns are struggling to survive and are experiencing dwindling populations as farms scale back operations and lay off workers due to lack of water to irrigate crops. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Lines are visible on a fallow field on April 24, 2015 in Stratford, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, small Central Valley farming towns are struggling to survive and are experiencing dwindling populations as farms scale back operations and lay off workers due to lack of water to irrigate crops. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Store shelves are nearly empty at Hardin's Grocery on April 24, 2015 in Stratford, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, small Central Valley farming towns are struggling to survive and are experiencing dwindling populations as farms scale back operations and lay off workers due to lack of water to irrigate crops. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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A sign referencing the drought is posted on the side of the road on April 24, 2015 in Firebaugh, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, farmers in the Central Valley are struggling to keep crops watered as wells run dry and government water allocations have been reduced or terminated. Many have opted to leave acres of their fields fallow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Cattle grazes on dead grass in the hills surrounding Lake Success on April 23, 2015 in Porterville, California. Over 300 homes in the California central valley city of Porterville are living without running water after their wells dried up due to the severe drought. County officials and charitable organizations are providing drinking water and non-potable water to use to wash dishes and bathe. Donna Johnson has been delivering drinking water to residents since the crisis began last year. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Cattle walk on dried grass on April 23, 2015 in Raymond, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, farmers in the Central Valley are struggling to keep their crops watered and many have opted to leave acres of the fields fallow. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Low water levels are visible at Hensley Lake on April 23, 2015 in Raymond, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, the State's reservoirs are shrinking due to lack of Sierra snow pack and very little rain. Hensley Lake is currently at 8 percent of its 90,000 acre feet capacity. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Water level markers stand on what used to be the bottom of Hensley Lake on April 23, 2015 in Raymond, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, the State's reservoirs are shrinking due to lack of Sierra snow pack and very little rain. Hensley Lake is currently at 8 percent of its 90,000 acre feet capacity. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 21: A sign for the 'Brown is the New Green' campaign is posted at the Marina Green on April 21, 2015 in San Francisco, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commision has launched the 'Brown is the New Green' campaign that encourages to residents to save water and let their lawns go brown. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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ZL Construction worker Raul Buenrostro (R) bails water out from a pool as co-worker Alex Hernandez (L) prepare to operate a jackhammer during the demolition of a swimming pool at an apartment complex on April 8, 2015 in Hayward, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, some California residents are opting to have their home swimming pools removed as they face a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water use. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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An employee of the Onelawn lanscaping company installs a section of articficial lawn at a home April 3, 2015 in Burlingame, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, artificial lawns have emerged as a water saving alternative to traditional lawns for Californians who are facing a mandatory 25% reduction in water use announced by California Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this week. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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California Governor Jerry Brown accompanies Frank Gehrke, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, as he conducts a manual snow survey April 1, 2015 in Phillips, California. The recorded level is zero, the lowest in recorded history for California. Gov. Brown went on to announce mandatory statewide water restrictions. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)
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A buoy stands on dry ground that used to be the bottom of the Camanche Reservoir on August 8, 2014 in Ione, California.
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: Low water levels are visible at Lake McClure on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could potentially run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: A power boat sits on a trailer in a parking lot that used to be under water at Lake McClure on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could potentially run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: A section of the Barrett Bridge that was demolished after the Yosemite Valley Railraod went out of service in 1945 is visible as Lake McClure water levels decline on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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SNELLING, CA - MARCH 24: A boom lays on what used to be the bottom of Lake McClure at the Exchequer Dam on March 24, 2015 in Snelling, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: Houseboats are dwarfed by the steep banks of Lake Don Pedro on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: Water depth markers stand on a section of Lake Don Pedro that used to be under water on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LA GRANGE, CA - MARCH 24: Crews try to pull a houseboat out of the low waters of Lake McClure on March 24, 2015 in La Grange, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Signs with instructions for boaters remain in a completely dry section of Lake McClure on March 24, 2015 in Coulterville, California. More than 3,000 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Lake Don Pedro who rely on water from Lake McCLure could run out of water in the near future if the severe drought continues. Lake McClure is currently at 7 percent of its normal capacity and residents are under mandatory 50 percent water use restrictions. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LAKEHEAD, CA - AUGUST 30: Houseboats are dwarfed by the steep banks of Shasta Lake at Holiday Harbor on August 30, 2014 in Lakehead, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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PORTERVILLE, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: A footbridge spans a completely dry river bed on September 4, 2014 in Porterville, California. Over 300 homes in the California central valley city of Porterville have been without running water for weeks after their wells dried up due to the severe drought. County officials and charitable organizations are providing drinking water and non-potable water to use to wash dishes and bathe. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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OROVILLE, CA - JULY 20: In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) Full water levels are visible in the Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on on July 20, 2011 in Oroville, California. (Photo by Paul Hames/California Department of Water Resources via Getty Images) OROVILLE, CA - AUGUST 19: (Bottom) Low water levels are visible in the Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville on August 19, 2014 in Oroville, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Lake Oroville is currently at 32 percent of its total 3,537,577 acre feet. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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OROVILLE, CA - JULY 20: In this before-and-after composite image, (Top) The Enterprise Bridge passes over full water levels at a section of Lake Oroville on July 20, 2011 in Oroville, California. (Photo by Paul Hames/California Department of Water Resources via Getty Images) OROVILLE, CA - AUGUST 19: (Bottom) The Enterprise Bridge passes over a section of Lake Oroville that is nearly dry on August 19, 2014 in Oroville, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Lake Oroville is currently at 32 percent of its total 3,537,577 acre feet. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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CHOWCHILLA, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: A sign asking politicians to help with the drought is posted along highway 152 on September 5, 2014 in Chowchilla, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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PORTERVILLE, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: A container filled with non-potable water sits in front of a home without running water on September 4, 2014 in Porterville, California. Over 300 homes in the California central valley city of Porterville have been without running water for weeks after their wells dried up due to the severe drought. County officials and charitable organizations are providing drinking water and non-potable water to use to wash dishes and bathe. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LAKEHEAD, CA - AUGUST 31: Dry cracked earth is visible on the banks of Shasta Lake at Bailey Cove August 31, 2014 in Lakehead, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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REDDING, CA - AUGUST 31: Houseboats are dwarfed by the steep banks of Shasta Lake at Bridge Bay Resort on August 31, 2014 in Redding, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LOS BANOS, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: A tractor kicks up dust as it drives through an unplanted field on September 5, 2014 in Los Banos, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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GUSTINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Low water levels are visible at the San Luis Reservoir on September 5, 2014 in Gustine, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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CHOWCHILLA, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: A windmill stands in an unplanted field on September 5, 2014 in Chowchilla, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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GUSTINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: Low water levels are visible from a boat ramp at the San Luis Reservoir on September 5, 2014 in Gustine, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LOS BANOS, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: A tractor kicks up dust as it drives through an unplanted field on September 5, 2014 in Los Banos, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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GUSTINE, CA - SEPTEMBER 05: A car is parked on a section of the San Luis Reservoir that used to be under water on September 5, 2014 in Gustine, California. As California suffers through a third straight year of drought, the state's reservoirs are at record lows and a large number of fields in the central valley sit unplanted. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LAKEHEAD, CA - AUGUST 30: Bridges span a dry inlet of Shasta Lake on August 30, 2014 in Lakehead, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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REDDING, CA - AUGUST 31: A houseboat is dwarfed by the steep banks of Shasta Lake on August 30, 2014 in Redding, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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REDDING, CA - AUGUST 30: Low water levels are visible on the banks of Shasta Lake on August 30, 2014 in Redding, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Shasta Lake is currently near 30 percent of its total capacity, the lowest it has been since 1977. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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FIREBAUGH, CA - AUGUST 22: A canal cuts through unplanted fields on August 22, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. As the severe California drought continues for a third straight year, Central California farming communites are struggling to survive with an unemployment rate nearing 40 percent in the towns of Mendota and Firebaugh. With limited supplies of water available to water crops, farmers are leaving acres of farmland unplanted and are having to lay off or reduce the hours of laborers. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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FOLSOM, CA - AUGUST 19: Boaters launch their boats hundreds of yards away from designated boat ramps at Folsom Lake on August 19, 2014 in Folsom, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. Folsom Lake is currently at 40 percent of its total capacity of 977,000 acre feet. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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MATHER, CA - AUGUST 19: The Folsom South Canal flows through unplanted farms on August 19, 2014 in Mather, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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LODI, CA - AUGUST 08: An American flag is posted on a fence in front of a dry unplanted field on August 8, 2014 in Lodi, California. As the severe drought in California contiues to worsen, the majority of the State's major reservoirs are at or below 50 percent of capacity with some nearing the 20 percent mark. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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A paddleboarder floats on the waters of Shasta Lake at Holiday Harbor on August 30, 2014 in Lakehead, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows.
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Low water levels are visible from a boat ramp at the San Luis Reservoir on September 5, 2014 in Gustine, California
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Boat docks at Browns Ravine sit on dry ground at Folsom Lake on August 19, 2014 in El Dorado Hills, California. As the severe drought in California continues for a third straight year, water levels in the State's lakes and reservoirs is reaching historic lows.
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Lake Shasta in north-central California is pictured in February 2014.
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A portion of the Tuolumne River, which flows from the Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River in California's Central Valley.
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Trinity Lake, located in north-central California, is pictured in February 2014.
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Folsom Lake is pictured in January 2014.
Stephanie Cantrell Metz via Facebook
A now-faded “no swimming” sign is still visible at Uvas Reservoir in Santa Clara County, Feb. 2014.
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A car sits in dried and cracked earth of what was the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir on Jan. 28, 2014, in San Jose, California. Now in its third straight year of drought conditions, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years, and reservoirs throughout the state have low water levels.
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A small pool of water is surrounded by dried and cracked earth that was the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir on Jan. 28, 2014 in San Jose, California. California Gov. Jerry Brown officially declared a drought emergency to speed up assistance to local governments, streamline water transfers and potentially ease environmental protection requirements for dam releases.
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Land is exposed by the extremely low water level of Lake Kaweah on Feb. 5, 2014, near Visalia, California. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species.
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Chairs sit in dried and cracked earth that used to be the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir on Jan. 28, 2014 in San Jose, California.
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A dog hangs around an abandoned farmhouse on Feb. 6, 2014 near Bakersfield, California.
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The low water level of Morris Reservoir is seen on the backside of Morris Dam before dawn on the San Gabriel River in the Angeles National Forest on Jan. 22, 2014, near Azusa, California.
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Rocky shores are exposed by the low waters of San Gabriel Reservoir on the San Gabriel River in the Angeles National Forest on Jan. 22, 2014.
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The San Gabriel River winds through the dry upper reaches of San Gabriel Reservoir in the Angeles National Forest on Jan. 22, 2014.
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The sun shines over the dry upper reaches of San Gabriel Reservoir in the Angeles National Forest on Jan. 22, 2014.
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A stream of water cuts through the dry bottom of the Almaden Reservoir on Jan. 28, 2014, in San Jose, California.
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A cattle truck passes a sign near stateHhighway 99 that calls for water and drought management actions on Feb.6, 2014, north of Bakersfield, California.
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A worker with Better Than Real Artficial Lawns installs an artificial lawn in front of an apartment building on Jan. 30, 2014, in San Jose, California. Artificial lawns have emerged as a water saving alternative for Californians who have been asked to voluntarily reduce water by twenty percent as California is experiencing its driest year on record. Some counties have imposed mandatory reductions in water use and have banned watering of lawns.
The plan calls for $1 billion in drought relief and is a response to what the governor and lawmakers called a water crisis that has intensified after months without much signficant precipitation. The vast majority of the package accelerates spending that voters have already approved for water and flood projects, including last year's $7.5 billion bond measure.
"There is no greater crisis facing our state today than our lack of water," said Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon during Thursday's news conference.
The two proposed bills would provide some funding for immediate aid to communities facing dire water shortages and unemployment. There is also money for emergency drinking water, food aid for the hardest-hit counties, fish and wildlife protections and groundwater management.
The legislation will need majority approval from the state Legislature which is controlled by Democrats. Republican leaders have not been briefed on the plan, according to their spokespeople.
Such spending is normally approved as part of budget negotiations that last through June. Although the plan being announced is labeled as emergency legislation, much of the funding has been available to the state for years. Some of the projects that will benefit could take more than a year before there is a noticeable increase in water supplies.
"This is a stuggle and it's going to be something we're going to have to the live with," Brown said Thursday. "For how long, we're not sure."
California’s largest water reservoir, Diamond Valley Lake, is running dry and the low water level has a much bigger effect than just on boating and fishing. Patrick Healy reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.
The announcement with Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and de Leon came one year after Brown signed a $687 million drought-relief package and the state's call to reduce monthly water use by 20 percent. But the drought's effects have continued to ripple across California, fueling more wildfires, forcing farmers to leave fields unplanted and leaving thousands in the Central Valley without work.
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"The drought isn't letter up, so we can't either," Atkins said. "This package alone will not solve our water emergency."
Winter is normally California's rainy season, but it's drawing to an end without significant storms to replenish reservoirs. This week's U.S. Drought Monitor report, released Thursday, shows nearly 40 percent of the state under the exceptional drought category. The Monitor depicts drought severity in five categories --- abnormally dry, moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional.
Ninety-three percent of the state is under severe drought, according to the weekly report issued by several government agencies.
The water in the Sierra Nevada snowpack, California's largest water source, is far below normal. Springtime runoff from the Sierra range flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, supplying water for an estimated 25 million Californians.
Continuing dry conditions drove state water regulators this week to ramp up mandatory water restrictions on California residents. Under rules approved Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board, Californians cannot water their lawns daily and must ask for water when dining at restaurants.
Brown was asked Thursday about calls for the state water board to enact stricter rules. He said the board is "acting at pace that makes sense."
"It takes a long time for people to grasp an unprecedented change," Brown said. "It takes a while. You might say why doesn't the Water Board do this or that? I'm going to talk to some members of the Water Board and ask them that very question."
U.S. Drought Monitor
The graphic above illustrates the severity of California's drought. The data was released March 19, 2015 by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Click map for larger version.
A year ago January, when the governor issed a drought proclamation, he asked all Californians to cut water consumption 20 percent voluntarily. Few areas have been able to meet that goal, except last December when there was rain. Asked about the failure of local water districts to require or meet the 20 percent goal, the governor said, "I don't like to second guess," and declined to issue a call for mandatory cutbacks.
"I think it's really up to the water districts," said Madelyyn Glickfeld, director of the Water Resorces Group at UCLA. "Hopefully the Metropolitan Water District will step up now."
Metropolitan is southern California's largest water importer and wholesaler, with 26 members, including Los Angeles, and serving a region of 19 million people. Its board next month is expected to vote for allocation cuts of 10-20 percent, chairman Randy Record told NBC4 last Friday. Member retailers that do not conserve enough will face surcharges.
The governor warned that worsening drought conditions will mean Californias will have to do more.
The $687 million funding package approved last year provided immediate aid such as drinking water for communities facing dire shortages and food and rental assistance. Most of the money is going to local agencies for projects like water recycling and new wells, with another $250 million set to be awarded by fall.
Lawmakers last year also negotiated a $7.5 billion water-bond measure with the governor, which was approved by voters in November. Money from that measure could be tapped to speed up local water projects.
