Wine Country Times

The State of California is dealing with a second consecutive year where things are far more dry than they should be, and the government and various agencies are taking action.

"Today we are advancing a drought emergency declaration in two counties in the state. We have the ability to flex up in real time based upon an iterative mindset and a focus to deal with changing conditions as they take shape. We'll be advancing an executive order today around drought preparation and we will be declaring in a targeted manner a drought emergency here in Mendocino County and in Sonoma Counties," Newsom said in an April 21 press conference in Ukiah, with Lake Mendocino in the background.

The space where Newsom stood should have been under water, but the rainfall totals have been nowhere close to what is needed in the area.

"Now I'm standing currently 40 feet under water, or should be standing 40 feet under water, save for this rather historic moment certainly historic for this particular Lake Mendocino which is at 43% of its capacity,” Newsom said.

State agencies will partner with local water suppliers to encourage consumers to conserve water through the Save Our Water campaign; agencies will also coordinate with California Native American tribes and speed up funding for projects devoted to water supply enhancement, conservation and species protection projects, according to a press release by Newsom’s office.

To address this issue in part, on April 23, the Department of Water Resources announced $26 million in grant funding for water system improvements meant to improve water supply security, reliability of drinking wells and water quality.

“California’s current drought conditions following a second consecutive dry year speak to the importance of managing our groundwater for long-term reliability,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Today’s funding awards further the state’s support for local leaders as they manage their groundwater supplies, particularly supporting communities at risk of drought impacts.”

These six grants will fund 16 projects within what DWR calls critically overdrafted groundwater basins in the Central Valley. A project in Fresno County is designed to build 60 wells to replenish depleted groundwater aquifers with stormwater. Three more projects will focus on flood managed aquifer recharge, which directs water from rain or snow melt to recharge aquifers on agricultural, working landscapes and managed natural lands.