Let’s Talk About…Water & the Drought: A Calaveras Planning Coalition Public Forum - meeting video

To view the Let’s Talk About…Water & the Drought: A Calaveras Planning Coalition Public Forum video CLICK HERE

Video of Calaveras Planning Commission, Calaveras County Water District, and Calaveras Board of Supervisor’s meetings graciously supplied by Calaveras Public Access TV and accessed through the Community Action Project.

Stage III Water Conservation Mandatory Measures

California OK's $500.00 fine for wasting water

California water regulators Tuesday approved fines for washing cars, watering lawns or hosing down sidewalks after revised figures showed that residents have increased consumption despite calls for big cutbacks amid the state's severe drought.

Read more at USA Today

CCWD Stage III Conservation interview with Joel Metzger

Stage III Water conseravation imperative to County

According to Joel Metzger of CCWD, the CCWD Stage III mandatory water conservation "is in response to a state curtailment order" which stated, in part, "that CCWD had to stop diverting water except for the health and human safety of its customers." CCWD chose to pass Stage I and II, which are both voluntary, in order to meet the requirements handed down from the State. 

If Stage IV is implemented it will include mandatory actions of a 50% reduction of water use with outdoor watering by hose or irrigation system prohibited,  as well as more restrictions.

According to Susan Larson of Tri Dam "The water within Tulloch Reservoir is the primary drinking water source for many of the residents in Copperopolis, and is supplied to them by the Calaveras County Water District." CCWD is at Stage III mandatory water conservation. "Other water is used by the irrigation districts downstream to fulfill irrigation commitments, and it is my understanding that all users have faced reductions."

Governor Brown Signs Drought Legislation

SACRAMENTO – As California grapples with the driest period in its history, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation to assist drought-affected communities and provide funding to better use local water supplies.

“Legislators across the aisle have now voted to help hard-pressed communities that face water shortages,” said Governor Brown. “This legislation marks a crucial step – but Californians must continue to take every action possible to conserve water.”

Governor Brown, Legislative Leaders Announce Emergency Drought Legislation

SACRAMENTO – With California experiencing its worst water shortage crisis in modern history, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today joined Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to announce legislation to immediately help communities deal with the devastating dry conditions affecting our state and provide funding to increase local water supplies.

“This is a call to action. We must all do our part to conserve in this drought,” said Governor Brown. “The state is doing its part by providing immediate funding for drinking water, food, housing and assistance for water-conserving technologies,” said Governor Brown.

The legislation provides $687.4 million to support drought relief, including money for housing and food for workers directly impacted by the drought, bond funds for projects to help local communities more efficiently capture and manage water and funding for securing emergency drinking water supplies for drought-impacted communities.

Gov Brown to announce emergency drought legislation today

Due to severe drought conditions in the state, Gov Brown will be introducing emergency drought legislation today at 2 pm at Mather.

The Gazette will bring you his statement as soon as it is released.

Governor Brown Issues Statement on State Water Project Allocations

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement after the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that State Water Project allocation is being dropped to zero:

“Today’s action is a stark reminder that California’s drought is real. We’re taking every possible step to prepare the state for the continuing dry conditions we face.”

President Obama calls Gov. Jerry Brown for California drought update — here’s the readout

The White House has just released details of President Obama’s call to Gov. Jerry Brown regarding the drought situation facing California.
Here’s the full release:
Today, the President called Governor Jerry Brown to receive an update on the situation in California and express his concern for the citizens impacted by the historic drought conditions facing the state – conditions that are likely to have significant impacts on the state’s communities, economy and environment in the coming months.
The President reinforced his commitment to providing the necessary federal support to the state and local efforts. The agencies are working together to target resources to help California and other impacted states prepare for and lessen the impacts of the drought. USDA is also working with farmers and ranchers to increase their irrigation water efficiency, protect vulnerable soils from erosion, and improve the health of pasture and range lands. And the Bureau of Reclamation is working closely with federal and California state authorities to facilitate water transfers and provide operational flexibility to convey and store available water, and facilitate additional actions that can conserve and move water to critical areas

Read more at SFGate

CCWD on Governor’s Request for All Californians to reduce Water Consumption by 20%

Calaveras County Water District continues to urge customers to use water wisely.  Water conservation is always a good idea.  

As the Drought picture becomes clear, CCWD will implement appropriate programs and policies to address water conservation.  At this time, the district is advising that all measures are voluntary.  While water supplies may be challenged during the upcoming year; good stewardship of the districts’ resources may be adequate to avoid mandatory restrictions.  

Gov Drought State of Emergency allows for more firefighter and reduction in water usage

terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” said Governor Brown. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”

In the State of Emergency declaration, Governor Brown directed state officials to assist farmers and communities that are economically impacted by dry conditions and to ensure the state can respond if Californians face drinking water shortages. The Governor also directed state agencies to use less water and hire more firefighters and initiated a greatly expanded water conservation public awareness campaign (details at saveourh2o.org).

California Reservoirs - drought status

Percentile Drought Monitor Category 0.00 - 0.02 D4  Drought - Exceptional 0.02 - 0.05 D3  Drought - Extreme 0.05 - 0.10 D2  Drought - Severe 0.10 - 0.20 D1  Drought - Moderate 0.20 - 0.30 D0  Abnormally Dry 0.30 + N  Normal           As of Apr 30, 2013			End of Month Storage Percentiles
Total Capacity (ac-ft)	Storage (ac-ft)	Reservoir	Jan '13	Feb '13	Mar '13	Apr '13
2,477,700	2,142,189	Trinity	0.660	0.580	0.440	0.440
4,552,000	3,788,352	Shasta	0.712	0.661	0.339	0.237
1,143,000	997,976	Almanor	0.979	0.875	0.854	0.792
3,537,600	3,040,407	Oroville	0.568	0.727	0.705	0.386
966,103	835,960	New Bullards Bar	0.907	0.860	0.791	0.605
732,000	372,100	Tahoe	0.481	0.463	0.463	0.463
977,000	681,715	Folsom	0.596	0.421	0.281	0.263
1,600,000	1,336,145	Berryessa	0.520	0.340	0.260	0.240
614,070	514,850	Camanche/Pardee	0.804	0.891	0.804	0.761
2,030,000	1,471,223	New Don Pedro	0.333	0.333	0.282	0.333
1,024,600	542,871	New Exchequer	0.333	0.289	0.222	0.244
520,000	330,322	Friant	0.424	0.407	0.339	0.339
1,000,000	434,936	Pine Flat	0.211	0.175	0.175	0.158
568,000	96,231	Isabella	0.111	0.111	0.067	0.067
2,039,000	1,109,961	San Luis	0.250	0.114	0.091	0.045
190,500	124,653	Cachuma	0.226	0.113	0.113	0.094
254,000	177,456	Casitas	0.093	0.070	0.047	0.047
707,900	329,416	Nacimiento/San Ant.	0.364	0.227	0.182	0.227

24,933,473

18,326,763

Statewide (selected)

0.538

0.410

0.333

0.256