The first official state of drought since 1991 has been declared in California after an announcement made on Wednesday by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The state has suffered noticeable decreases in rainfall and snowmelt runoffs in the past two years. Officials claimed in a report that snowpack water content is only at 67% of the normal amount this year and snowmelt runoffs are down 55% of normal.
Californians are being urged to make use of water conservation systems set up by the state. The Department of Water Resources has been instructed by the governor to supply water to areas which are in drastic need. Emergency water resources will be given out and the department will expediate programs to allow local water districts to conserve.
Not only has the drought effected the enormous agricultural market in California but has also spiked fire warnings due to dry land and has caused economic harm to rural and urban communities and could possibly degrade the quality of water in certain districts.
The governor worries that drought conditions are continuing to worsen and calls for more detailed infrastructure to gather water during wet years which can be used during dry years like these.
The governor said: This drought is an urgent reminder of the immediate need to upgrade California's water infrastructure,' Governor Schwarzenegger said. 'There is no more time to waste because nothing is more vital to protect our economy, our environment and our quality of life. We must work together to ensure that California will have safe, reliable and clean water not only today but 20, 30 and 40 years from now.'
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This post was written by Christine Pinella on June 7, 2008