Schwarzenegger Declares Drought In Calif.

Gov. Warns State To Cut Water Use Or Face Possibility Of Rationing

(CBS/ AP)  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide drought after two years of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and a court-ordered restriction on water transfers.

Schwarzenegger warned that residents and water managers must immediately cut their water use or face the possibility of rationing next year if there is another dry winter.

"We must recognize the severity of the crisis that we face," the Republican governor said Wednesday at a news conference.

He signed an executive order directing the state's response to unusually dry conditions that are damaging crops, harming water quality and causing extreme fire danger across California. Many communities already require water conservation or rationing.

The statewide drought declaration is the first since 1991, when Gov. Pete Wilson acted in the fifth year of a drought that lasted into 1992.

Schwarzenegger directed the state Department of Water Resources to help speed water transfers to areas with the worst shortages, to help local water districts with conservation efforts and to assist farmers suffering losses from the drought.

Los Angeles residents won't be able to wash their cars at home or water their lawns during the day, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes.

California depends on winter snow accumulating in the Sierra Nevada for much of its summer water supply. But March, April and May were the driest winter months on record, forcing water use cutbacks by farmers and urban residents alike.

Avocado farmer Charlie Wolk told Hughes that he's been forced to prune 30 percent of his trees into hibernation to meet a cutback in water supplies.

"I suppose eventually I'll get to the point where there won't be anything to cut," said Wolk.

The Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nev., reported that precipitation in California during that period was 1.2 inches, or 22 percent of the average for the 114 years since record-keeping began.

Snow measurements last month found that the Sierra held just 69 percent of an average winter. Runoff into California rivers was at 55 percent of a normal year. The state's major reservoirs are at 50 percent to 63 percent of their capacity at a time when they ideally would be full.

Conditions could be even worse next year if there is another dry winter, Water Resources Director Lester Snow said.

"We need at least above normal in terms of our snowpack, and then we're still going to be tight," Snow said. "The idea is to put programs in place now to soften the impact in 2008 and to prepare for a potential third year of drought in 2009."

California's population has mushroomed since the last drought, while the water supply has dwindled, he said.

An eight-year drought in the Southwest means California can't depend on Colorado River water to help supply Southern California. And a federal judge's order last year requires that more Northern California water be left in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to aid declining fish populations.

"We're suffering the perfect storm, if you will," said Timothy Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. "The purpose of the governor's declaration is to send a wake-up call."

California has never resorted to statewide rationing during droughts, Quinn said.

Worst-hit so far is the San Joaquin Valley, which could soon merit an emergency declaration because of crop damage, Snow said.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said this week it would cut water supplied to Central Valley farms to 40 percent of the amount growers contract for with the federal government. Water deliveries from state reservoirs could drop to 35 percent, Snow said.

That could mean hundreds of acres of crops won't be planted this year, according to the giant Westlands Water District, which supplies growers who produce about $1 billion worth of crops annually.

The state is exploring ways to send scarce water to farmers for the growing season now while cutting deliveries later, Snow said.

"Giving water to the farmers in September doesn't help the fact that they need it on their tomato crop in June," Snow said. "It's not just the tomato crop that you lose. It's the employment that's associated with the tomato crop."

Schwarzenegger used the drought declaration to push a nearly $12 billion bond to fund delta, river and groundwater improvements, conservation and recycling efforts, and reservoirs. Legislators have not agreed to his plan.

"It is easy for Sacramento to put off dealing with the water infrastructure," Schwarzenegger said. "But as we now see, there is no more time to waste, because nothing is more vital than to protect our economy, to protect our environment, and to protect of quality of life."

[keithle1]

Always something going on in California: wildfires, mudslides, etc. Every year.

The Terminator has his hands full.

[michellem99-2009]

Here the answer for ye.Ye don''t have to read the bible posts. They want yer attn but if ye say nothing than they will move on. Understand. This works in all areas.

[al2008-2009]

I*m appalled at the administration*s lack of response to the global warming heat waves and droughts. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these droughts, and mother earth continues to suffer while the administration refuses to go forward and do what*s right for mother earth.
.
How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible regulations into effect? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope. As Obama has recently stated on Earth Day, we will save the planet. We will change our economy to a green economy, eliminate our current anti-progressive economy, and eliminate c02 pollution by 80% in our generation. This is a change we all definitely need, a much needed change for the better.
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We the people call upon our leaders to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these droughts continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these droughts cease. We need action now.

[superdem]

All you right wing religious freaks are amazing. If you''d get your heads out of your bibles and just look at what''s in front of you, you''d see that humans have overbuilt and overpopulated a basically desert chaparelle environment, which never could and never will support the crushing numnbers and the human exploitation visited upon it. The native Americans knew this, and only lived in small sustainable bands. It has nothing to do with sin or god or liberals. It has to do with human stupidity and the refusal to accept reality. I guess there''s no water on Mars because the Martians were all gay and God had to punnish them. Here''s a little experiment - put twenty five people in a tiny room with one water cooler for a month. Wonder what will happen ? Here''s another experiment. Put 25 Christians in one tiny room and 25 heathen liberals in another tiny room - one water cooler each, for a month. What will happen there ? I know, god works in mysterious ways. And you don''t believe in science, so experiments mean nothing, especially when they conflict with your "beliefs" or your "faith." Keep bashing Pelosi and the ***, god loves that, and you.

[msay3]

Deuteronomy 28

15But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

16Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.


Posted by onlythereal at 07:20 AM : Jun 06, 2008
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So educate me, thumper, what''s that supposed to mean?..Sounds like a bunch of veiled *** that can be construed to mean anything that suits the times or ones own particular beliefs....

[msay3]

That part of the country is arid anyway...Lot of desert out west....To para-phrase McBush...."It''s so dry in Arizona the trees chase the dogs!".....BOOO HISSSSS!!!!

[extremophil]

I don''t know about the water, but I wish Schwarzenegger would get his wife to eat a sandwich.

[mudrose-2009]

I HOPE IT GETS SO DRY THERE THAT IT SHRIVELS UP AND BREAKS OFF THE MAINLAND AND SINKS. OH, AND P.S. PEWLOSI DON''T CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD EITHER IF YOU NEED HELP. SEEMS TO ME YOU CREDIT IRAN WITH THE PACIFICATION OF BASRA SO IF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NEEDS HELP CALL AHMIE''S QUDS FORCE SINCE THEY DID SUCH A GREAT JOB IN IRAQ. PIECE OF ***** THAT YOU ARE STRETCH.

[endtimes72]

it''s sign of the times. and what''s scary is that Jesus said this only the beginning of sorrows. we can expect much worse in the days ahead.

[fireceos]

My water bill has increased over 100% in the last 3 years alone. While I agree people should use any natural resource as wisely as possible, the real issue is, that the population is growing, and the water plan needs to keep up with the population. Conserving too much water only delays the inevitable by allowing governments to make very conservative calculations and as such, during a dry season, everyone''s put on restrictions.

The water plan needs to be ahead of demand, at all times. The water bubble may very well be our next crisis.

Oh, and by the way, California has a LOT of oceanfront. Has there NOT, in all these years been technology developed to make ocean water drinkable? If sewer water can be filtered and recycled, I would think it would be MUCH easier to filter ocean water.

Something''s amiss here. Water your lawns as much as you''d like to avoid sending the message that needs are low. I won''t, but anyone else that wants to, go ahead.

[darnedsocks]

SCHWARTZNEGGER NEEDS TO TAKE A STAND ON THIS GAY MARRIAGE CRAPP! WHY DOES HE WANT TO BE AN "ENABLER" OF PERVERSION!?

[michellem99-2009]

Truth is the crops need water to grow and crops is food. If water is out there be no food. Ye talking about them outhouses thst were used before the WC that is now in homes. Ever used one. I have. We had to. THat was in the 60s. There was places where ye used one and them were common.

[sistatee-2009]

Go! Run! Get to the chopper!

[brianbwb-2009]

"Giving water to the farmers in September doesn''t help the fact that they need it on their tomato crop in June," Snow said. "It''s not just the tomato crop that you lose. It''s the employment that''s associated with the tomato crop."

While the drought is indeed a serious problem, Mr. Snow makes the wrong attempt to scare people, and actually damages the credibility of the message.

Employment?

The only ones losing employment are illegal migrant workers.

[maiingan]

It would be useful if building codes were changed to permit new and remodeled homes to omit water closets and have only waterless toilets (composting or incineration).

[dmhphils]

NO DOUBT DUE TO THE RECENT OVER-TURNIING OF THE PEOPLE''S VOTE TO BAN SAME-*** MARRIAGES.

BE CAREFUL.....THE LAND IS LIABLE TO VOMIT OUT THE INHABITANTS.....JUST LIKE IN THE MOST LOVED AND MOST HATED BOOK, THE BIBLE.

[stn_sage]

It''s a good thing Schwartzenegger didn''t wait any longer! They''ve got a serious problem on their hands!

The fact that rain amounts are only at 22% of the norm in the recorded 114 year history of record-keeping, reservoirs are at 50-63% full, runoff into rivers is at 55% of norm, and not mentioned in article but they''re having tornadoes now as well, indicates California''s environment is "off"! It remains to be seen whether or not this is anomalous.

The legislature needs to get together with him and work these things out quickly and take action soon as it will take time to implement a lot---if not most---of the solutions that will be necessary!

The longer they delay, the harder it will be to fix these problems. If they wait too long, it may become impossible!

[haoli25]

I guess that means that Maria isn''t giving IT up.

[denn034]

They''re next to an ocean and they''ve got a drought! That''s about as nonsensical as it gets, Schwarzenegger.

[nascar8de]

Time to call the well drillers!!!!!