SACRAMENTO, CA - California Governor Jerry Brown has announced actions that will save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state's drought response, and invest in new technologies to make California more resilient in drought conditions.

Brown’s Executive Order mandates substantial water reductions for all urban Californians statewide. In his announcement, the governor acknowledged that agriculture has “borne much of the brunt of the drought to date, with hundreds of thousands of fallowed acres, significantly reduced water allocations and thousands of farmworkers laid off.” 

Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif said in response to the order, “Through these actions, Governor Brown acknowledges the seriousness of the drought all Californians face.  Although much of the population has been relatively unaffected by the natural and man-made causes perpetuating the drought, no one has been more affected than California farmers."  

Nassif continued by noting that Western Growers is pleased that the governor has acknowledged the plight of the state’s farmers and the sacrifices they have made by fallowing acres and laying off farmworkers due to the lack of water.   

In total, the Executive Order aims to accomplish four things:

Save Water

The State Water Resources Control Board will implement mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent. The savings will equal to approximately 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months, or nearly as much as is currently in Lake Oroville.

Increase Enforcement

Local water agencies will adjust their rate structures to implement conservation pricing and agricultural water users will be required to report more water use information. Water districts will be required to develop water management plans and require the filing of permanent monthly reports of water usage.

Streamline Government Response

The government will be prioritizing and streamlining the permitting process and the process for reviewing water projects in the state.

Invest in New Technologies

The Executive Order will incentivize new technology that will make California more water efficient through new programs administered by the California Energy Commission.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for continuing updates on the California drought.

Western Growers Association