57° P/SUNNY, Schwarzenegger declares drought emergency
Last Modified: Friday, February 27, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency after three years of below-average rain and snowfall.
- Water supply decisions delayed; officials pray for more rain
- Lake Pillsbury's on the rise but water woes remain
- Recent rains can't help California emerge from drought
- Water restrictions still likely on tap
- Ranchers, farmers fear drought
- Grim news for growers
- Water suppliers prepare for dramatic flow reductions of 30 percent or more
- Snowpack shrinking: record drought in state possible
- Cuts up to 50% could be mandated
The governor signed the proclamation Friday. Among other steps, it directs state agencies to provide assistance for affected communities and businesses.
The move encourages urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent and says mandatory conservation is an option if other measures are insufficient.
Schwarzenegger called the drought a crisis as severe as an earthquake or wildfire.
It 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.
Federal water managers plan to temporarily cut off water this March to thousands of California farms.
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