The plan from the governor and Democratic legislative leaders comes after last year's $687 million drought-relief package
By Jonathan Lloyd and Wire Reports
KNBC-TV Los Angeles
March 19, 2015
Drought-relief legislation will be proposed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders as California enters its fourth consecutive dry year near the end of what has been a dismal wet season.
Brown's office announced a news conference at the state Capitol for Thursday to present the legislation, but it released no details of the plan. The plan calls for $1 billion in drought relief, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times that cited two unnamed sources.
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The announcement with Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon comes one year after Brown signed a $687 million drought-relief package and the state's call to reduce monthly water use by 20 percent. But the drought's effects have continued to ripple across California, fueling more wildfires, forcing farmers to leave fields unplanted and leaving thousands in the Central Valley without work.
Winter is normally California's rainy season, but it's drawing to an end without significant storms to replenish reservoirs. This week's U.S. Drought Monitor report, released Thursday, shows nearly 40 percent of the state under the exceptional drought category. The Monitor depicts drought severity in five categories --- abnormally dry, moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional.
Ninety-three percent of the state is under severe drought, according to the weekly report issued by several government agencies.
The water in the Sierra Nevada snowpack, California's largest water source, is far below normal. Springtime runoff from the Sierra range flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, supplying water for an estimated 25 million Californians.
Continuing dry conditions drove state water regulators this week to ramp up mandatory water restrictions on California residents. Under rules approved Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board, Californians cannot water their lawns daily and must ask for water when dining at restaurants.
Photo credit: U.S. Drought Monitor
The $687 million funding package approved last year provided immediate aid such as drinking water for communities facing dire shortages and food and rental assistance. Most of the money is going to local agencies for projects like water recycling and new wells, with another $250 million set to be awarded by fall.
Lawmakers last year also negotiated a $7.5 billion water-bond measure with the governor, which was approved by voters in November. Money from that measure could be tapped to speed up local water projects.
Evan Westrup, a spokesman for the governor, declined to provide any details about the proposal. Spokespeople for Atkins and de Leon also declined to comment on the drought-relief legislation.
Source: www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Governor-Jerry-Brown-California-Drought-Relief-296861521.html--
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