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2015 DROUGHT REPORT

State Operations CenterAugust 25, 2015

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• Three year period between 2011 and 2014 driest on record

• Effect of drought being felt differently throughout state

• Household and non-farm businesses account for 20% of human water use in California

• Major metropolitan areas in So California and the Bay Area relatively well supplied

• Communities without diverse water sources face sharp cutbacks

• Agriculture accounts for 80% of human water use

• Ag growers lost 6.6 million acre feet of surface water in 2014*

• Large cuts in crop acreage

• Difficult trade-offs

• Protecting Fish and Wildlife

• Water supplies for cites and agriculture

* California Public Policy Institute California

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Governor proclaimed a State of Emergency on January 17, 2014

Executive Order B-26-14 declaring a state of emergency due to the drought; streamlined relief efforts for drinking water shortages (CDAA) and provide temporary supplies to certain households.

Executive Order B-28-14 waived specific sections of the California Environmental Quality Act and Water Code and the adoption of water reclamation requirements by the State Water Board.

Executive Order B-29-15 to increase enforcement, streamline drought response, invest in new water technologies, and orders cities and towns to cut water use by 25%.

Governor’s Drought Task Force (DTF) meets weekly

• Advise on conservation actions

• Monitor and report drought impacts

• Coordinate state response to the drought

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• $687 million for meeting critical drought-related needs.

- Nearly $625 million dedicated to capital improvements to water systems

- $21 million grant allocated for pre-approved for certain projects.

- $200 million awarded October 2014; remaining $250 million to be granted by fall 2015.

• Additional $53.8 million allocated in 2014 budget for CAL FIRE to enhance firefighter surge capacity and retain seasonal firefighters beyond typical fire season.

2014 Drought Response Funding

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The state pledged in the 2015/16 budget over $ 1.7 billion to supportdrought relief.

State funding includes:

- $1.53 billion to protect and expand local water supplies  - $117 million for water conservation

- $115 million for emergency response

 

Governor Brown met with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell earlier in the year to announce nearly $20 million in federal drought relief for California’s Central Valley Project.

2015 Emergency Drought Package

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60 Emergency Proclamations have been received to date from city, county, tribal governments, and special districts

• 27 Counties

• 12 Cities

• 9 Tribes

• 12 Special Districts

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Local Emergency Proclamations

As of July 31, 2015 County Drought Proclamations

Local Proclamation Approved None at this time Tribal Government Proclamation Tribal Taskforce Cal OES Administration Regions

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Reservoir Levels (% capacity)*

Castaic Lake 37%; Don Pedro 32%; Exchequer (Lake McClure) 10%; Folsom Lake 21%; Lake Oroville 31%; Lake Perris 36%; Lake Shasta 40%; Millerton Lake 31%; New Melones 13%; Pine Flat 13%; Lake San Luis 20%; Trinity Lake 29%. *As of August 24 ,2015

Vulnerable Water Systems   

The State Water Board continues to provide technical and funding assistance to several communities facing drinking water shortages and is monitoring water systems across the state. Since January 2014, 90 out of the 119 projects approved to receive emergency funding for interim replacement drinking water have been executed.

Dry Well Count*Coastal 6Inland 2,128Southern 91

Total Count 2,225*As of August 19, 2015

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A series of webcam photos of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, taken each mid-March from 2012 to 2015, vividly illustrates the effects of the multi-year drought. Credit: Yosemite Conservancy

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Snow Pack Conditions

The Sierra Nevada snowpack is dismal. DWR reported a ZERO percent of normal snowpack on May 28, 2015. Sierra snowpack is important because:

• it‘s a crucial sources of surface water for California cities and farms;

• the state relies on the melted snow in summer to get it through months without rain; and

• it’s traditionally the state’s most dependable water source

April 1, 2015

Phillips snow course just off Highway 50 near Sierra at Tahoe Road 90 miles east of Sacramento

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Current Operations and Response Activities

State Operation Center (SOC) has been activated since January 2014 to implement objectives in support of the Governor’s priorities

Cal OES’ Regions (Inland, Coastal, Southern) coordinate daily activities with the Operational Areas (OA) and elevate and address any drought related needs

Cal OES Regions participate in weekly calls with the OAs, state agency representatives, tribal governments, and the SOC to identify drought issues, discuss on-going drought projects, and receive updates on state agency drought programs

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Current State Activities

Department of Water Resources (DWR)Works with governmental and public entities to develop strategic goals and actions to conserve, manage, and sustain California's watersheds, water resources, and management systems.

State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board)Provides assistance to communities facing drinking water shortages; monitors water systems across the state; sent curtailment notices to pre-1914 (senior) water rights holders.

Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) available to agriculture operations to implement measures that result in water conservation measures in irrigation systems.

Department of Social Services (CDSS)Drought Food Assistance Program (DFAP) has provided to date over 818,174 boxes of food to community food banks in drought-impacted counties. Boxes include a 3-5 day supply of food.

Department of General Services (DGS)Provides irrigation upgrades to state facilities including drip irrigation, low angle sprinklers, and smaller sprinkler heads; allocates funds to help other Departments with water conservation.

Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)The Drought Housing Relocation Assistance program provides $6 Million of relocation and rental assistance funds to households living in housing units without potable water.

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USDA Drought Designation Status

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US Department of Agriculture

All counties (except San Francisco) were designated natural disaster areas on March 30, 2015, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include

• Emergency Conservation Program

• Livestock Forage Disaster Program

• Livestock Indemnity Program

• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program

• Tree Assistance Program

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CAL FIRE

Since January 2015, CAL FIRE has responded to over 4,549 wildfires across the state, burning 144,253 acres in the State Responsibility Area (SRA). There are over 10,277 firefighters and 793 engines currently in action, with 167 new wildfires 8/10-8/17. A 66% increase in wildfires over last year.*

Statewide Open Burn Ban Update:

To date, all counties in the state have suspended burn permits. The suspension bans all outdoor residential burning of landscape debris.

*Updated August 19, 2015

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California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Fish rescues during the period, August 10 – August 16, 2015:

• Two fish rescues on Mad River (Humboldt); 156 juvenile Coho Salmon taken to Hall Creek (Humboldt)

• Two rescues on the Carmel River (Monterey) where 4 juvenile Steelhead Trout were rescued and released into the upper reaches of the river

DFW is monitoring an increase in human/wildlife conflict occurrences (primarily, with bears or mountain lions), as a result of the animals expanding their territory in search of water.

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Inland Region Coastal Region County Previous Meetings Upcoming Meetings County Previous Meetings Upcoming Meetings

Butte 6/17/2015 TBD Hoopa Valley Tribe 8/10/2015 TBD (Inter-Tribal)Colusa 7/29/2015 TBD Hopland Tribe   TBDGlenn 7/29/2015 TBD Humboldt 7/28/2015 8/26/2015Kern 6/4/2015 TBD Karuk Tribe  8/10 (Inter-Tribal) TBD (Inter-Tribal)Kings 7/16/2015 TBD Lake  7/16/2015 8/20/2015Madera 8/18/2015 TBD Mendocino 10/30/2014 TBDMerced 7/23/2015 8/27/2015 Monterey 6/3/2015 TBDModoc 2/12/2014 TBD Napa 5/15/2015 TBDNevada 10/29/2014 TBD San Francisco 8/11/2014 TBDPlacer 4/20/2015 TBD San Mateo 6/17/2015 TBDPlumas 8/3/2015 TBD Santa Clara   TBDSacramento 8/6/2015 9/3/2015 Sherwood Valley Tribe 11/1/2014 TBDSan Joaquin 8/5/2015 9/2/2015 Solano   TBDSiskiyou 5/22/2014 TBD Trinidad Tribe 8/10/2015 TBD (Inter-Tribal)

Stanislaus 6/18/2015 8/20/2015 Yurok Tribe 8/10/2015 TBD (Inter-Tribal)

Sutter 8/13/2015 TBD Southern RegionTehama 7/29/2015 TBD La Jolla Band/Luiseno As neededTrinity 7/8/2015 TBD Orange 7/21/2015 TBDTulare 8/10/2015 TBD San Luis Obispo 7/15/2015 8/19/15

Tuolumne 8/7/2015 TBD Santa Barbara 7/15/2015 10/14/15

Yolo 11/6/2014 TBD

Counties Tribes

Totals 33 7

Drought Task Force Meetings

Updated August 19, 2015

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U.S. Drought Monitor Weekly Comparison

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Local Water Agencies Restriction Status

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Contact Information

Eric Lamoureux

Regional Administrator

Eric.lamoureux@caloes.ca.gov

916.524-0350